LES RÉCITS DU MÉNAGE
HOUSEHOLD STORIES -  THE STORIES NOT HEARD IN THE CORRIDORS

​

What would it be like if no one cleaned, and if the maintenance of common spaces was simply neglected? If these tasks are so important, why do we undervalue their worth?

“Comme je ne sais pas lire ni écrire, donc il faut faire le ménage, pour pouvoir t'en sortir... c'est mieux que zéro”

                         

  (“I don’t know how to read or write,

 so I have to do housework, to be able to

get out of it... it's better than zero”)

​

- Anonyme, 2024

​

This exhibition is dedicated to the women whose work is essential for the smooth functioning of life at the CIUP (Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris): the cleaning staff. Telling their stories through their portraits aims to recognize the importance of their contribution as workers and members of the community, as well as to reflect on the interrelationship between domestic work and feminist movements.

​

Highlighting feminized professions—associated with femininity and, consequently, predominantly employing women—has always been at the forefront of feminist struggles. Although paid domestic work is now recognized as formal employment by French law, the social value assigned to it often remains lower than that conferred upon other professional sectors. This is even noticeable in the way we refer to those who perform this work: "cleaning ladies." Despite the fact that they are mainly women—reflecting the heteronormative distribution of tasks—the use of the term "woman" instead of a specific name to designate these workers contrasts with how we name employees in other professions. We do not call the gardener "man of the garden," nor the hairdresser "woman of the hair." In this exhibition, we use the term "cleaning staff" to assert their status as workers and to distinguish them from individuals—predominantly women—who perform unpaid domestic work.

​

However, these women are much more than just employees. They are individuals who play multiple roles within various spaces and communities. As you will see, their stories recount diverse experiences. Behind the photographs, you will find narratives of joy, satisfaction, and support networks; as well as discomfort, challenges, and disappointment. These experiences highlight issues resulting from the intersectionality of structures that disrupt the daily lives of these individuals as women, migrants, mothers, and employees.

​

The exhibition consists of 30 portraits accompanied by written life stories. Half of the portraits present the faces of women hidden behind their names, symbolizing the social tendency to render their work and stories invisible. the other half reveals their gaze, claiming their agency and their place in society. We invite you to explore them while reflecting on the considerable contribution of these individuals to the well-being of the CIUP and the importance of caregiving work in society overall.

​

​