Trabalho doméstico e maternidade: os desafios do trabalho reprodutivo dentro e fora de casa

Abstract

This work addresses the analysis of reproductive work in the context of domestic work, highlighting motherhood and its challenges both inside and outside the home. These activities, which include caring for the home, children, elderly people and dependents, constitute an essential type of work for society, although it is often invisible and undervalued. The objective of this study is to analyze the nuances of this type of work from a historical and social perspective, considering the implications of capitalism in the structure of domestic and motherhood activities. The specific objectives include: (i) highlighting the conceptual and historical aspects that contributed to the feminization of care, highlighting how this phenomenon is related to gender and class inequalities; (ii) discuss the dynamics of reproductive work in its domestic and professional spheres, considering the social and economic implications; and (iii) point out the specific challenges faced by domestic working mothers, who experience overlapping working hours. To carry out this study, a qualitative methodology was adopted, guided by historical-dialectical materialism, seeking to understand the reality of domestic workers based on their contradictions and structural contexts. Data were collected through bibliographical review and semi-structured interviews, with a total of three subjects interviewed, exploring the intersectionality between gender, race and social class. The research showed that domestic work and care, historically attributed to women, reflect structural inequalities of gender, race and class. Motherhood, romanticized by society, presents challenges marked by emotional and physical overload, worsened by precarious social support. Women, especially black and brown women, face exhausting journeys, combining motherhood, domestic and formal work. The expected results aim to expand the academic and social debate about the overload in working conditions for domestic worker mothers.