Rasgos básicos y transformaciones en el servicio doméstico en una ciudad periférica. A Coruña, 1900-1960

Abstract

In this paper a preliminary analysis of the basic features and transformations of a low qualification activity —domestic service—, is carried out, in a town located in the Spanish economic periphery. The method follows the use of the population census as the main source, but trying to put the analysis into the local and regional socio-economic context, and comparing it with the evolution of this type of employment at the national and international level. The main strokes were not essentially different from those of the other Spanish towns and cities, although the high presence of domestic service within a predominantly tertiary economic structure was an outstanding feature. The servants were mostly young women, almost always single, coming from the nearby rural environment, and with low level of education, who used domestic service as the first, sometimes the only, alternative to improve their precarious economic situation.