HOW IS THE FAMILIARIZATION OF DOMESTIC WORK USED AS A STRATEGY TO DENY THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP AND TO CONCEAL SITUATIONS OF SLAVE-LIKE LABOR?

Abstract

This paper examines the “familiarization” of domestic work in Brazil as a strategy that conceals labor exploitation under the guise of emotional bonds and care. Through a historical and critical approach, the study reveals how the legacy of slavery continues to shape domestic labor through informality, structural racism, and gender inequality. Real-life cases are presented to illustrate the persistence of slavery-like conditions, and recent statistics underscore the ongoing prevalence of informality and precariousness. The research concludes that portraying domestic workers as “part of the family” remains a tool of subordination and calls for further studies aimed at dismantling this oppressive dynamic.