A woman hired to do cleaning and household chores, especially on a part-time or temporary basis.
From char (Old English cerran meaning 'to turn or do chores') + woman (Old English wifman). 'Char' became a general term for work or tasks, especially cleaning.
Charwomen were essential to Victorian households—they worked irregular hours, cleaned for multiple employers, and were often invisible labor that kept wealthy homes running smoothly.
Charwoman (cleaning woman hired by the day) became a feminized occupation during the 19th-20th centuries. The term reflects gendered labor stratification where working-class women dominated domestic service roles with associated low pay and status.
Use 'cleaner' or 'cleaning worker' to describe the occupation without gender specification. If historical context is relevant, note that women disproportionately filled these roles.
["cleaner","cleaning worker","housecleaner"]
Working-class women have historically organized for better wages and conditions in cleaning work; labor unions like the IUE and SEIU centered women's voices in these fights.
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