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Media Depictions of Nannies Over Time
Media Depictions of Nannies Over Time
By Michael Lee
Introduction:
The caring and nurturing of a child(s) has always been the most important part of parenthood. For some families, some rely on the help of others: nannies. The question is this: Over time, with the evolution of technology, how does the media portray the role of a nanny? Over the history of the United States, one sees a change in the role of nannies and in their depictions through the media. In the 19th century, paintings, such as the one referenced in this essay, showcases the elegance and beauty of a nanny. With the 20th century, a rise in changing marital expectations causes a decline in the need for nannies, but continues to glamorize their role. It isn’t until the 21st century that one truly sees a perfect blend in both romanticizing nannies and showcasing the intense labor that comes with it. Through thorough research, as nannies have evolved over time, media depictions of nannies over the years have slowly changed from solely focusing on glamorizing the role of a nanny within the family, to becoming more transparent about the intense labor and hardships associated with it.
A Brief History of child care in the U.S.:
The United States has a long history of child care, specifically with the handling of children. Native American women have found ingenious ways of taking care of their children, such as creating creative cradle boards and woven slings to carry their child while they farm and hunt (1). A similar practice was done by Midwestern farmers and pioneers, but instead of cradling them they would lay their babies in wooden boxes that were fastened to their plows (2). During these times, American families emphasized the importance of survival over everything else. They would find ways of ensuring the safety of their children while also farming and conducting activities that sustain their survival. However, as the United States continued to industrialize, this practice of carrying for one’s child has evolved over time.
A Native American mother with her child; provided by Native Languages website citation (1)
Painting: Nanny and the Child; provided by the National Art Gallery citation (3)
Gonzales, Eva. 1877/1878. Oil on canvas. 65 by 81.4 cm.
19th century painting:
One of the first and one of the most poignant examples of how nannies are depicted is a painting crafted by Eva Gonzales, titled Nanny and the Child (3). This painting perfectly portrays both the contemporary characteristics of life during the late 19th century and how nannies were portrayed. Historically, during the late 19th to the early 20th century, nannies were referred to as nurses, taking care and watching over infants. One can assume that the nanny referred to in the painting above is a nurse and works for a wealthy family, as during this time, only the wealthy could afford and hire such nurses to care for their children. Based on this, nannies are seen as a status symbol, signifying a family of wealth and power. One thing to point out would be the way her hands lay on her legs and the tilt of her head. One can associate this with calmness and elegance, conveying the “at peace” mentality she is with her job. However, the tasks associated with being a nanny are not one that is commonly associated with calmness and elegance. Many nannies during this time have to not only care for the child, which consists of feeding, cleaning, dressing, but also cleaning the house, doing laundry, and cooking. Along with this, many nannies lived in the homes of their employers, which, for the most time, is isolated from the rest of the family home. In fact, being a nanny means one “existed in a space between the family and the domestic staff, and oftentimes were not accepted by either class. This made for a lonely life.” (4) The painting does not suggest any of this, and would rather have the audience assume the tranquil life of being a nanny.
Video from the 1939 film Gone With The Wind; clip highlights the relationship dynamic between Mammy and Scarlett; provided by citation (5)
Glamorizing slavery and nannies:
The transition to a new form of child care starts with the 1800s, the beginning of the end of slavery. For most states, mainly in the South, a majority of domestic workers consisted of slaves, many of whom were forced to watch over and care for their white family’s children, and allocate time to care and spend time being mothers as well. This portrayal of nannies as enslaved women is best seen in one of the best films ever created: Gone With The Wind. Released in 1939, the essential premise of the movie is about the life of Scarlett and her experiences through the events of the beginning of the Civil War and the end of it. However, one of the most poignant characters in the film and novel would be the nanny, Mammy. In the film, Mammy is portrayed as the “rock of the family.” The bond between Scarlett and Mammy is similar to a daughter and her mother, signaling the relationship that the film seeks to portray between a child and a nanny (5). However, the film fails to convey the most crucial aspect: Mammy is a slave. The film glamorizes the role of slaves as one of happiness. Mammy appears to enjoy her role as a nanny, mainly seen in the relationship between Mammy and Scarlett. The character of Mammy is undermining how oppressive and dark slavery was in the history of America. The relationship between Mammy and the whole family attempts to overshadow this issue, and instead tries to paint a picture of Mammy enjoying her life as a slave and a nanny.
The decline of housework:
During the 1950s and 60s, things started to change. As the United States exits World War Two, the country emerges as one a world superpower. Her engineering and military might is unmatched compared to her allies. One of the reasons behind this can be attributed to the success and willpower of the workers back at home, whom a majority consists of women. When the war ended, a majority of people expected these women to return to domestic work. However, this is not the case. During the 50s and 60s, a new cultural and social wave hit the United States, specifically affecting marital relationships. After the war, a new set of expectations arose for married women. Married women, now called housewives, were expected to do most of the work associated with the house (6). In fact, according to Katherine Davis, chair of the National Committee on Household Employment from 1940 to 1945, states that “household servants are gone forever.” (7). The hiring of nannies decreases substantially, and, instead of hiring them for full time jobs, many lean towards part time hiring, where “the worker would come part-time, three days a week, or every morning or afternoon to do such tasks as cleaning, making beds, and preparing evening meals.” (7). This change from full time to part time is a significant shift when compared to the 19th century.
The Magical Nanny:
Not only have societal standards and expectations changed over time, the media’s portrayal of nannies continues to further emphasize the glamorous lives of nannies. One prime example of this would be the 1964 film, Mary Poppins. The film follows the interactions between the nanny, Mary Poppins, and the Banks family, specifically the interactions between Poppins and the two Bank’s children, Michael and Jane, and Poppins’ role in mending the relationship between the children and their parents. Although this film is set in the early 1900s, the film is a prime example of how the media wants to continue to portray how glamorous and fun nannies are. Mary Poppins is seen as a magical being, descending from the sky like a gift from God (8). The film wants audiences to believe not only that the solution to family problems comes with a nanny, but that nannies are all “fun and games” and can take your children on wild and fun adventures. What the film fails to highlight is the amount of labor and hours working associated with the hiring of a nanny in realistic terms. Although during the 60s, a majority of middle class families have their housework and childcare done by housewives, those families able to hire a nanny still have to clean the house, cook, along with the caring of the children. It is, for lack of a better term, tedious. The film, with Mary Poppins’ magical powers, makes these tasks effortless (9). The film fails to show the extensive labor of caretaking at all.
Both video clips showcases the magical abilities of the nanny, Mary Poppins; provided by citations (8) and (9)
Counter and rebuttal:
Even with all these examples, people would believe that media depictions have always addressed the hardships of being a nanny, as seen in various clips of movies showing nannies actually doing the household chores. However, this is not the case as throughout most of the 19th and middle 20th century, many media forms romanticized the role of a nanny as the main focus; the chores and labor is only a backdrop and is not highlighted. It is not until the late 20th and 21st century that the media has a more transparent view of the labor behind being a nanny.
The first episode of tv show Jessie; times 12:14 to 13:08 showcases one the hardest jobs associated with being a nanny; provided by citation (10)
Baker, Phil, Director. Jessie. Season 1, episode 1.
The perfect balance between glamourization and labor:
A prime example of a media source that seeks to balance both the glamorization of nannies and the hardships associated with being one would be the Disney show Jessie. Running from 2011 to 2015, the show Jessie follows the life of Jessie Prescott as she takes care of four children of the Ross family, a wealthy family that lives in a penthouse in New York. The tv show focuses on the relationship between Jessie and the children and the various activities, interactions, and daily life of the Ross children and Jessie. The show continues the trend of showcasing the glamorous life of being a nanny, as seen throughout the show, Jessie spends a considerable amount of time bonding and having fun with the children, accentuating this lovable and fun lifestyle of a nanny. However, this show, unlike previous examples, does address the hardships and how labor intensive being a nanny is. Jessie does highlight two main challenges with being a nanny: balancing work with her personal life and dealing with devious and sometimes uncontrollable children (10). Unlike Mary Poppins, Jessie does not shy away from showing how hard it is sometimes to be a nanny: Disney has done this in a way that highlights not only hardships of being a nanny but showcases it as “fun,” as it strengthens the bond between Jessie and the children. Essentially, a perfect balance between glamorization and labor intensive. In fact, in the 21st century, in general, there is a degree of change when it comes to not only the depiction of nannies in media, but also a more appreciative view of domestic work.
The revival and change in nannies:
Along with changing media depictions, changing social stances on the distribution of housework and the rise of women entering the workforce, causes an increase in the need for outside help for childcare when compared to the 1950s and 1960s. One sees a significant increase in the gap between the number of hours per week women spend on childcare and paid work in the 21st century when compared to the 1960s (11). Due to this, the need for nannies becomes ever so apparent, however, in this day and age, the requirements for becoming a nanny have grown when compared to the 20th and 19th century. An example would be a tweet from a family looking to hire a nanny, but the twist is the absurd amounts of requirements that must be met and the unconventional tasks that come along with the role (12). In order to qualify for this job, the nanny must have a college degree, something that was not needed nor even considered back then. Even with the similar tasks as nannies back then, such as cleaning, cooking, and caring for the children, this nanny must be able to plan out vacations by comparing “and make recommendations regarding using credit card points to booking vacations versus paying cash.” This is probably a rare and unusual case of the requirements for the hiring of a nanny, but it proves a point. In this day and age, the hiring process behind a nanny has become more “strict” compared to its predecessors, as qualifications and ensuring a parent’s children are in the best care become more important. The hiring of Jessie in Jessie was probably an extensive interviewing and vetting process, and it worked out in the end. Not only has the media's depiction of nannies changed and the qualifications needed, but also a rising consensus on the importance of ensuring the proper treatment and care for nannies.
Graph highlights the vast difference in the amount of hours per week women spend on paid work and child care, with close attention to the gap in 1965 and 2011; provided by citation (11)
Excerpt from a tweet describing the family about the absurd tasks that are required from the family for the nanny; provided by citation (12)
The FLSA:
All women who have occupations in this field face many hardships. Nannies for the longest time, have not been treated on the same level as other domestic workers. In fact, in 1974, even though the government finally amended the FLSA, the Fair Labor Standards Act, to ensure proper protection of domestic workers, it excludes child care. Due to this there is no legal requirement that provides benefits for many nannies and in-home child care workers. Although there is no legal legislation that seeks to protect nannies, one should not take this as the opportunity to abuse the power associated with having a nanny. It wasn’t until the mid 2000s, one sees a rise in the support for nannies. One such example includes New York passing the first Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, which ensures “benefits to domestic workers, including overtime pay, paid vacation, sick time, and health insurance coverage.” (14). The proper care for nannies is a welcomed change, as it allows for many nannies to have their personal time. One sees this in Jessie, as she balances her personal life, and troubles, with the caring of the four children.
Conclusion:
In the end, over the period of American history, one sees a change in childcare. This country has come a long way, from slings and cradles to the hiring of nannies. The media for the longest time refuses to acknowledge the hardships and the intensive labor that many nannies have to deal with, especially in slavery and in domestic work, and instead focuses on glamorizing and romanticizing the work and relationships that nannies form with their employers. It is not until the late 20th century to 21st century, that society starts to recognize that there are indeed hardships associated with being a nanny. Along with passing of legislation ensuring the protection of nannies as domestic workers and the growing requirements for becoming a nanny, the media’s depiction of nannies seeks to showcase that there are hardships with this job. In the future, films, tv shows, etc. of nannies will ensure proper portrayal of them.
Bibliography
(1) “Native American Cradleboards.” Native American Cradleboards: Papoose Cradles and other American Indian Baby Carriers. Accessed May 4, 2023. https://www.native-languages.org/cradleboard.htm.
(2) Deja, Promise, Kynota Murray, David Haines, Jane Ambrose, Pamela M. Covington March 8, “The History of Child Care in the U.S.” Social Welfare History Project, March 10, 2023. https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/child-care-the-american-history/.
(3) “Nanny and Child.” Art Object Page. Accessed May 4, 2023. https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.135512.html.
(4) “History of the Nanny.” NannyAuthority, February 1, 2016. https://nannyauthority.com/history-of-the-nanny/.
(5) Scarlett and Mammy . YouTube. YouTube, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ7r2OVu1ss&t=54s.
(6) Blower , Brooke L. "Housework and Housewives." Lecture, March 30, 2023.
(7) “Domesticity and Dirt: Housewives and Domestic Servants in the United States, 1920–1945.” Temple University Press and North Broad Press. Accessed May 4, 2023. https://temple.manifoldapp.org/read/domesticity-and-dirt-housewives-and-domestic-servants-in-the-united-states-1920-1945/section/6314fe35-058d-4515-bec3-555b42b23611.
(8) Mary Popins (1964). YouTube. YouTube, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiKI9Za8r78
(9) “A Spoonful of Sugar - Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins 1964.” YouTube. YouTube, June 22, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L4qauTiCY4.
(10) Jessie . YouTube. YouTube, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHDqCQQsMX8.
(11) Parker, Kim. “Chapter 5: Americans' Time at Paid Work, Housework, Child Care, 1965 to 2011.” Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project. Pew Research Center, August 2, 2022. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/03/14/chapter-5-americans-time-at-paid-work-housework-child-care-1965-to-2011/.
(12) Jackson, Jame. “Twitter Can't Stop Talking about This Intensely Detailed Craigslist Ad for a House Nanny.” BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed, January 25, 2020. https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamedjackson/this-craigslist-ad-searching-for-a-nanny-has-gone-viral.
(13) “A Brief History of the Nanny in America.” Sitter.com. Accessed May 4, 2023. https://sitter.com/blogs/history-nanny-in-america?id=history-nanny-in-america&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fsitter.com%2Fhistory-nanny-in-america.
(14) Staff, FindLaw. “New York Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.” Findlaw, December 14, 2021. https://www.findlaw.com/state/new-york-law/new-york-domestic-workers-bill-of-rights.html#:~:text=In%202010%2C%20New%20York%20passed,time%2C%20and%20health%20insurance%20coverage.
About the Author
About the Author
Michael grew up and has lived in Cupertino, California for all his life. This is Michael's first time in Boston, and the largest change to his life would be adjusting to the extreme cold that has engulfed the city for the last couple of months. Here are a couple of fun/interesting facts about Michael: he hates cilantro because it tastes like soap and he has three cats.
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