Percepções e representações sobre trabalho doméstico de mulheres donas de casa no bairro das Mahotas em Maputo

Abstract

Driven by academic discourses around domestic work that is closely linked gender relations and the sexual division of tasks in the family, this report aims to understand the social role and symbolic value that women housewives have on domestic activities. The data were collected in the neighborhood of Mahotas Municipal District KaMavota, Maputo city in the interval of three months. Data collection was carried out through direct observation using semi-structured interviews. Preliminary data consider invisible, disqualified domestic work belonging to the private space, and place more emphasis on paid domestic work and the roles performed by men in the public space, neglecting the role and social value that this is attributed by women (Aguiar, 1984 and Lagos 2009). Domestic work is carried out by women with the support of their children and other family members. There are several activities carried out, ranging from cleaning the house, ironing, washing clothes, cooking and informal business that they carry out in front of the house in small stalls that it serves to support family income and small daily shifts that are carried out between neighborhood women.