As an Equal?

Reviews / Votes

This ground-breaking book exposes the economic and political forces that shape our homes and the work that goes on inside them. * Bridget Anderson, University of Bristol * Brimming with insights, this book challenges the stereotype of the au pair as an equal member of a "traditional" English family. The authors expose the problematic nature of au pairing at a time of deregulation and hidden exploitation. * Helen Jarvis, Newcastle University * A very important contribution to understanding current variations of domestic labour. Brilliantly places the phenomenon of au pairing both in a historical context and in the present-day neoliberal reality of the UK. * Helle Stenum, Roskilde University * Fills an important lacuna in the area of transnational migrant domestic and care work. A must read for students and scholars of care work in the age of neoliberal care regimes. * Helma Lutz, author of The New Maids * This informative and incisive study reveals the relations of care, inter-dependence, affection and exploitation as young women from Europe "help" more affluent women. The authors provide an indisputable case for reform. * Linda McDowell, Oxford University (Emerita) * In the first large-scale investigation of a largely hidden world, the authors provide an incisive account of the lived experiences of au pairs and their host families, showing how au pairing has become an integral part of austerity Britain. * Majella Kilkey, University of Sheffield * A revelatory study. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the conundrums and inequalities framing the global crisis of work and care. * Mary Romero, author of The Maid's Daughter: Living Inside and Outside the American Dream * A much needed account of the reality of au pairing, which also poignantly illustrates how intersectional inequalities are produced in today's Europe. An insightful read for all social scientists. * Sabrina Marchetti, Ca' Foscari University of Venice * Using the voices of both au pairs and their hosts, the book expertly demonstrates how the historical context and structural inequalities which frame au pairing influence the lived experiences of au pairs in the UK. * Zuzana Sekerakova Burikova, Masaryk University *