Final Paper

Mothers and Nannies: A relationship of Convenience or Necessity

 

            Since the 1960s, women’s’ role in the workplace has been expanding. Whereas women were once consigned to occupations as secretaries and teachers, jobs that would often leave time to arrive home in conjunction with their children, women are currently a vital and successful aspect of today’s’ work force. According to a 2008 study by the US Department of Labor, women comprise 46% of the US labor force. Of the record 68 million women employed in the United States in 2008, 75% of these women worked on a full time basis.  In a dramatic shift from the last century, women now account for 51% of all workers in the highest-paying management, professional, and other related professions. Of the Fortune 50 companies listed in 2008, one was headed by a female CEO. Of the Fortune 500 companies listed in 2008, there are 15 female CEOs, and 26 female CEOs are listed for the Fortune 1000.  One may imagine, with all these women in the workforce, what has happened to the traditional family structure. No longer is the typical mother pictured standing at her stove, children ready at the table, awaiting the arrival of her husband after a long days’ work. For a working mother, the struggle to find the balance between a successful career and an involved parent can be difficult. With child care centers under funded, over capacity, and quality control difficult, many choose to put their child in the hands of a surrogate parent or caregiver- the Nanny.

            Nannies have been present in upper middle class and upper class society for hundreds of years, While women were not in the work place, it was common for upper class women to higher a surrogate care giver to look after the care and well being of their child. Yet it was not until the early 1980s when the divide between stay at home mothers with nannies, working mothers with nannies, and stay at home mothers that care for the children without help became overly publicized. The 2007 film, The Nanny Diaries, based on a book by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus depicts the relationship between an Ivy League college graduate who is employed as nanny by Mrs. X, a Manhattan socialite. Annie, played by Scarlotte Johannsen, comes to be known by her occupation by both Mrs. X and her young charge, Grayer. To Mrs. X, Annie is nothing more than Nanny, though her responsibilities go far beyond the care and well being of young Grayer. Annie is everything that is not what the multicultural representation of Nanny has come to be. Annie is from Manhattan and comes from a rather affluent family, having attended a distinguished girls’ school and being the product of a teacher at Collegiate and lawyer. Annie epitomizes the height of what affluent families want in their nanny: Caucasian, bi- or tri-lingual, well educated, and an American born citizen or of Western European descent.

            While Scarlotte Johansens’ character is one example of a caregiver, the majority of professional caregivers in the United States are representative of multiculturalism.  In an article by Patricia Greenfield, of the Psychology Department at UCLA, the theme of “What happens when parents and nannies come form different cultures” is explored.  Greenfield argues that in a multicultural society where many children have working parents, large numbers of children have caregivers from more than one culture.  Greenfield investigates the culturally based difference in care giving beliefs and practices between nannies and the parents that employ them. She hypothesizes that US born employers and Latina immigrant have to negotiate and resolve conflicting socialization and strategies and developmental goals. This is relatable, as many working mothers who employ nannies will set their ideas in accordance with how they think their child should be raised, but then count on the nanny to implement the strategy. This often leads to a clash of social norms.