Just a musing I had today. My cleaner has had a few cases of being unwell. She came in today coughing her lungs up and I told her of course to go home (and yes I would still pay her).
And it occurred to me that the whole issue of zero hours/casual labour and the issues in terms of sick pay etc - has really only become an issue since men became more active in that type of labour market.
i.e. domestic cleaners (typically still and certainly traditionally) have been women. Normally no guaranteed hours, no sick leave, annual leave etc. And there has never been much of a hoohah about that. The historical revolution in labour rights was (correct me if I'm wrong) almost all in the traditionally male sphere of labour relations.
Also made me think of my social justice warrior friend who negotiated her cleaner down to £6 an hour.
So it just annoyed me that women have been expected to do domestic jobs with poor security but all I hear about in the zero hours debate is delivery and uber drivers (usually - but not always - men).
Am I missing something? It just irritated me.