New Books in History Emily Callaci, "Wages for Housework: The Feminist Fight Against Unpaid Labor" (Seal Press, 2025)
Nov 20, 2025
Emily Callaci, a historian and professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, dives into the groundbreaking feminist movement advocating for compensation for unpaid domestic labor. She explores the origins of the 'Wages for Housework' campaign, highlighting its global impact from the 1970s onward. Callaci introduces pivotal figures like Selma James and Silvia Federici, discussing how their diverse backgrounds enriched the movement. She provocatively questions the implications of prioritizing care over production and envisions a transformed society where women could reclaim their time.
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Poster Sparked Personal Research
- Emily Callaci describes hanging a Wages for Housework poster while caring for her child and working late nights.
- The poster provoked her to study the movement when housework became overwhelming after having a child.
Invisibility Of Domestic Labor
- Emily Callaci realized postpartum domestic labor was invisible and unsupported despite being essential.
- That invisibility motivated her to look historically for political solutions beyond life hacks.
A Global Movement, Not A Gimmick
- Archival correspondence showed Wages for Housework was a global, not just local, movement.
- That breadth reframed the demand as an ambitious political project, not mere theater.
