Why Every South African Should Watch 'Maid' on Netflix

"Why should domestic violence and housekeeping be viewed side by side? Because they are too intertwined to be isolated," writes Robyn Simpson from Cape {town} Etc. "The new Netflix series “Maid” has lit a fire in me."

More than half of the South African population is female, equaling 30.5 million women. 43 percent of children live only with mothers, and 21 percent have experienced physical violence from a partner. Officially, there are 1 million registered domestic workers in South Africa.

These figures derived from a South African government statistical report from 2018/2019, Stats SA.

What is the series "Maid" about?

“Maid” tells the story of domestic violence while presenting a 25-year-old aspiring writer's struggle to find her way out. A drunk fist hitting a wall signals the start of Alex and her 2-year-old daughter's journey.

This is a tale of survival, scrubbing one filthy job after another – and that’s not the vulgarest part you’ll encounter.

"My first lesson from Maid is that the statistics mentioned above are neither remotely accurate nor substantial," Simpson realizes.

What does the series have to do with South Africa?

Publicly available statistics rely on surveys conducted by unnamed women. These data do not account for unofficial reports of abuse and myriad struggles faced by women.

In 2019, Business Insider conducted a survey where 3,700 domestic workers were questioned, 16 percent of whom reported physical or emotional abuse while working.

Women for Change SA reported that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation. Police Minister Bheki Cele announced that more than 87,000 cases of gender-based violence were reported after just eight days of lockdown.

On September 12, more than a year after the initial lockdown announcement, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation. He recognized the “second pandemic” of gender-based violence.

"South Africa, we must educate ourselves and combat this abuse," Simpson urges. "A good start might just be watching Maid. Only when we understand our thought patterns can we possibly evoke change."

Lessons from the series:

1. Abuse has many forms

"Maid" brings to light the subject of abuse and highlights the necessity of recognizing emotional abuse.

2. The way out is more of a maze than a light tunnel

The series illustrates how women in violent relationships are trapped in a broken system, leaving them with grim choices.

3. All domestic workers should wear superhero capes

“Maid” offers a view into the often-overlooked lives of women and the challenges they face.

We must acknowledge our privileges and do what is right: support those who don’t have the same rights we often take for granted.