Definition of the word cleaning lady

The term "cleaning lady" originally appeared in English in the late 19th century, primarily to describe immigrant women from Eastern Europe and other parts of the world who came to work as domestic servants in wealthy households in cities like London, New York, and Paris. The word "cleaning" refers to the duties these women were hired to perform, which included tasks such as washing dishes, sweeping floors, dusting furniture, and scrubbing bathrooms. The term "lady" was added to denote the woman's role as a subordinate employee in a household, reflecting the social and class distinctions that existed at the time. Initially, the term "cleaning lady" was perceived as derogatory due to its connotation of menial labor and its association with women who were perceived as less than dignified or respectable. However, as the number of immigrant women working as cleaners grew, the term became widely accepted in everyday conversation and eventually gained common usage. Today, while the word "cleaning lady" may still hold some negative connotations, its use has become a matter of personal preference and situational context. Some people continue to use the term as a convenient shorthand for referring to housekeeping staff, while others prefer more neutral alternatives like "cleaning service" or "domestic cleaner."