A sad story about how Singapore maid agencies are “displaying domestic helpers in agency shop windows, prompting a women’s activist group to describe the practise as ‘appalling.'”
The article explains:
Mostly shy and some as young as 19, they sit without moving or talking as strangers peer at them.
“It presents a good opportunity for potential employers who can just walk in and interview them in person,” an agency spokesman told the newspaper Today, “better than looking at a photo.”
Some observers compared the scene to prostitutes who appear in window displays in the red-light districts of Amsterdam or Russia. Others expressed concern about displaying maids as commodities.
I find it truly repulsive, and I want to believe that most Singaporeans do as well.
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By Gweilo Diaries
Maids on Display
Richard pointed me to this story: The latest gimmick in Singapore’s maid trade is displaying domestic helpers in agency shop
August 25, 2003 @ 6:32 am | Comment
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By idle
I went into a maid agency once and they had all these young ladies sitting in a row. As soon as I reached for the door, one of them hurried to open it and all of them chorused, “Good afternoon, Ma’am!” as soon as I stepped in. I felt kind of bad for them, like as though they were puppies at a pound waiting to be put out of their misery.
But seriously speaking, I don’t think I agree with the “apalling” tag, but comparing the scene to prostitutes appearing in windows is apalling. How can they equate the maids to prostitutes?
August 25, 2003 @ 10:14 am | Comment
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By richard
It’s not that the maids are actually like prostitutes. It’s that they are forced to undergo the same humiliating “look-at-me” exhibit as prostitiues are, as though they are a piece of meat on a hook. You might expect that sort of treatment of prostitutes (disgusting as it is) but not of house maids.
August 25, 2003 @ 10:28 am | Comment
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By Phil
It is absolutely appalling. Imagine yourself being made to sit ain a window and be gawped at by people as if you were a product to be bought.
August 26, 2003 @ 7:01 am | Comment
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By arjun
can uu send mee phone numbers of prostitutes in singapore.plz if uu have any numbers kindly mail them 2 meeee.iam new to singapore.
July 26, 2004 @ 10:12 pm | Comment
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By colin
arjun you are a disgrace to everyone. this article not only has NOTHING to do with protstitues’ numbers, but you are one of the men who continue to encourage prostitution just for a few minutes of pleasure. women aren’t just trophy prizes to be bought for an hour or two. they’re people who deserved to be treated equally. although it is a far cry to compare these maids to prostitues, the overall effect is clear. put up an ad in a newspaper, but don’t advertise them in a display window like they’re some sort of circus freaks.
October 16, 2004 @ 12:48 pm | Comment
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By Anonymous
Fuck you all.Maids and prostitutes are all the same.All are fuckable you dumb fucking asses.I pay my maid about $800 a month and for that she agrees to fuck me and be naked in the house most of the time.In addition I go to Batam,Geylang,Amsterdam,Las Vegas, Paris and Thailand for sex!!!Loosen up you assholes women are meant to be fucked stupid.Variety is the spice of life here man!!!Dumb asses.
March 31, 2005 @ 9:43 pm | Comment
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By Harry
Yeah man I agree.The $800 you pay your maid is probably a little too steep though.I pay mine $500.She cooks for me,cleans for me and best of all fuck with me!!!Long live maids!!!
March 31, 2005 @ 9:45 pm | Comment
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By John
Harrys right you guys. I think I need to get me a maid. I like the turn this site has taken. It used to be sooo boring. Word
May 2, 2005 @ 4:48 am | Comment
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By CUNG HUE
I HIRED A LIVE IN MAID FROM A AGENCY AND SHE TURNED OUT TO BE A PEKING DUCK
June 8, 2006 @ 5:00 pm | Comment