A life in a day
Katarzyna Sieradzka (Kasia) is a single mother to her 13 year old son, Jakub. She moved to the UK from Poland 14 years ago. She is self employed and works 3 domestic jobs a day. She manages her home on her own, ensuring that Jakub, who is autistic, is safe and well. She works with energy in other women's homes, so that those women can work in jobs that are measured in growth figures and policies.
Domestic labour is mostly left out of the debate on gender equality, with women's empowerment measured instead by influence at the workplace. Housework and childcare is outsourced to less advantaged women for a low wage, often without workplace protections or benefits, with the result that this work is underpaid and undervalued.
Can we consider this a success for women at large? What is "essential work" is and what skills are critical? How we value the work of maintaining a home and caring for children better?
4:45am The day begins.
5am: First a cigarette and then she prepares breakfast and the school bag for Jakub. It is the same thing, in the same place, everyday. For an autistic child, routine is everything.
5:15am: Self-care time, which may include exercise, but always includes a full make-up routine.
6:10am: She wakes her son and leaves for the day. He will eat alone and walk himself to the school bus.
6:30am: With her colleague she catches the bus and the overground and walks to work.
7:30am-1.30pm: She and her colleague dust, clean, iron, fold and tidy two houses, with a 30 min commute between the two. Snacks, sandwich and cigarette breaks are snatched in between times.
3pm: On a Wednesday, she and Jakub eat dinner together when he comes home from school. Alongside Maths, which he excels at, today he has learned ironing.
4pm-7pm: Childminding three year old Annabel, whose mother is at work, is her last job. She teaches numbers or names of things, plays, gives her dinner.
8pm: The day is washed away in the shower. That way, Kasia can start again tomorrow.