Nanny Diaries and Other Stories: Immigrant Women’s Labor in the Social Reproduction of American Families

* A longer version of this paper was originally published in DePaul Law Review 52, no. 3 (2003). •• Ph.D. en Sociología de University of Colorado, Estados Unidos. Profesora de Justice Studies en Arizona State University, Estados Unidos. Correo electrónico: nnary.romero@asu.edu

Nanny Diaries and Other Stories: Immigrant Women's Labor in the Social Reproduction of American Families Mary Romero

Wanted: One young woman to take care of four-year-old boy. Must be cheerful, enthusiastic, and selfless—bordering on masochistic. Must relish sixteen-hour shifts with a deliberately nap-deprived preschocler. Must love getting thrown up on, literally and figuratively, by everyone in his family. Must enjoy the delicious anticipation ofridiculously erratic pay. Mostly, must love being treated like fungus found growing out of employer's Hermes hag. Those who take it personaïïy need not apply (McLaughlin and Kraus 2002, back cover)