How Nannies Gain Experience

Employers tend to lump women from Latin America into one convenient label and think they are nurturing and caring, qualities associated with women’s “natural” expressions of love for family. In fact they come from widely diverse backgrounds and may have no experience in actual childcare. Only when they came to America did many take on the role of nanny or housecleaner. Over half (n = 6) the employees in my study identified factory work as their previous job. Others listed security guard, fast food restaurants, and elder care. Eloisa admitted having no experience with American children as young as the three she cared for. Maritza describes her job experience, “The truth is what experience I have I didn’t learn in school; I use the intuition of a mother like the way I am with my children.”