Is 'Helper' a euphemism?

ksl · Post by **ksl** » Sun, 19 Jun 2011 3:27 pm

Strong Eagle wrote:
x9200 wrote:Hmmm. I can understand "Sir" - it is still in every day common use but master sounds like from a deferent era. If they still train them that way it likely indicates some market demand.
You know it's time for a new maid when she starts calling you honey instead of sir.

OMG

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Sun, 19 Jun 2011 3:48 pm

Strong Eagle wrote:
x9200 wrote:Hmmm. I can understand "Sir" - it is still in every day common use but master sounds like from a deferent era. If they still train them that way it likely indicates some market demand.
You know it's time for a new maid when she starts calling you honey instead of sir.

Honey went out of fashion .. it is Baby .. when the maid calls the child 'my baby' and stares at the boss, then it is time

Post by **nakatago** » Sun, 19 Jun 2011 5:14 pm

ksl wrote:
Strong Eagle wrote:
x9200 wrote:Hmmm. I can understand "Sir" - it is still in every day common use but master sounds like from a deferent era. If they still train them that way it likely indicates some market demand.
You know it's time for a new maid when she starts calling you honey instead of sir.
OMG

...or the maid is sassy and always says 'master' ironically or even sarcastically

Post by **x9200** » Sun, 19 Jun 2011 7:16 pm

Baby is less appropriate as it may indicate affection. Honey or even better darling is almost routine so appears to be right for a model employee-employer relation.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Sun, 19 Jun 2011 7:31 pm

I ggogled on:
Singapore maid agency
results = 3.23m

Singapore domestic helper agency
results = 0.4m

The SGn/corporate side seem to prefer to call them maids. On the flipside the employers (such as the people who come here to ask questions re: hiring one etc) seem to be more comfortable referring to them as domestic helpers.

This suggests to me political correctness. People who are maybe rather embarrassed at the idea of having 'servants'?

poodlek · Post by **poodlek** » Sun, 19 Jun 2011 9:40 pm

JR8 wrote: This suggests to me political correctness. People who are maybe rather embarrassed at the idea of having 'servants'?

Makes the most sense to me. A servant is an extravagance. A helper almost seems necessary.

longhorn0915 · Post by **longhorn0915** » Mon, 20 Jun 2011 9:07 am

Just my opinion, but it seems like calling them domestic helper might make it easier to have them help with babysitting duties in addition to housework. That may be the reason for the change.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Mon, 20 Jun 2011 9:12 am

Nah. That is part and parcel to their job description here. Most don't bother to get domestic helpers unless they have kids. Or are Tai-Tais! The other difference is if the children are infants, they they (the ma'am & sir) try to find one with experience with them, otherwise, most are already used to taking care of kids (most have their own back in their home countries).

morenangpinay · Post by **morenangpinay** » Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:08 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:The agencies try to train them to say either master or sir.

maybe they can train them to say "Master Bruce..your bat suit is ready" to complete the picture.

Post by **nakatago** » Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:35 pm

morenangpinay wrote:
sundaymorningstaple wrote:The agencies try to train them to say either master or sir.
maybe they can train them to say "Master Bruce..your bat suit is ready" to complete the picture.

like how this guy does it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHlAACC-FKI

morenangpinay · Post by **morenangpinay** » Wed, 29 Jun 2011 8:14 am

nakatago wrote:
morenangpinay wrote:
sundaymorningstaple wrote:The agencies try to train them to say either master or sir.
maybe they can train them to say "Master Bruce..your bat suit is ready" to complete the picture.
like how this guy does it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHlAACC-FKI

my former officemate used to do that and read the Lord of The Rings...drove me crazy..

buyan · Post by **buyan** » Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:50 pm

This is quote-unquote from a letter to the editor in a local paper back in August when a review of domestic helper conditions was underway: "My maid doesn't know how good she has it - I give her one day of a month and I even let her use her cell phone on her day off, after all, she is only human". That one rocked me!!!

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Wed, 04 Jan 2012 4:33 pm

buyan wrote:This is quote-unquote from a letter to the editor in a local paper back in August when a review of domestic helper conditions was underway: "My maid doesn't know how good she has it - I give her one day of a month and I even let her use her cell phone on her day off, after all, she is only human". That one rocked me!!!

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Is 'Helper' a euphemism?

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