Social and gender norms informing, voicing, and reporting against sexual harassment among domestic workers in Kampala's informal economy

Motivation

Urbanization and the increasing number of double-income households has led to a rise in demand for domestic workers in many African countries. With a population of over 75% people below 30 years of age, young people's unemployment is a major challenge for Uganda. Approximately 90% of young people work in the informal economy. Domestic workers' informal employment is unregulated and precarious.

Purpose

The article examines the role of social and gender norms in voicing and formal reporting of sexual harassment. It demonstrates the intersecting risk factors that create exposure to sexual harassment, challenges relating to voicing, as well as how restrictive norms are reproduced by other actors.

Methods and approach

The study adopted a qualitative research approach; desk review, qualitative, and visual methods. Primary data collection included safety audits and body mappings with groups of live-in domestic workers and firm workers, and in-depth individual interviews with domestic workers. Safety audits discussed forms of harassment and response mechanisms while the body mappings focused on language.

Findings

Isolated working conditions increase the risk of experiencing sexual harassment and limit avenues for reporting. Social and gender norms undermine domestic workers' ability to report it formally. The culture of silence and notions of victim blaming, stigmatization, and lack of a language that raises matters of sexual harassment all hinder women's voice towards self-care and justice. Social and gender norms contribute to the persistence of sexual harassment through its normalization.

Policy implications

Domestic work should legally be recognized as work and labour laws need to extend to domestic workers. Workplace sexual harassment policy needs to extend to all workspaces, regardless of the number of employees. Domestic workers need better access to information, co-workers, and associations, for instance through information technology. Advocacy for the rights of domestic workers and network building are recommended.