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Charwoman,chargirl,charlady andchar are occupational terms referring to a paid part-time worker who comes into a house or other building to clean it for a few hours of a day or week, as opposed to amaid, who usually lives as part of the household within the structure ofdomestic service. A charwoman might work independently, often forcash in hand, or might come through anemployment agency.
Before 1960, the term "charwoman" was used as an officialjob title by government agencies in theUnited States, including municipal and state governments and by federal agencies such as theDepartment of Commerce and Labor, theBureau of the Census, and theBureau of Immigration.
Charwomen have also sometimes been referred to as "scrubwomen". The word has the same root as "chore woman", one hired to do odd chores around the house. InBritish English, "cleaner" is now used much more often. InAmerican English, the term "cleaning lady" or "housekeeper" is often used for any woman who cleans a home or hotel, whether she lives there or not.[1][2]American Gothic is an iconic photograph of "charwoman"Ella Watson byGordon Parks, as a reimaging of thepainting of the same name.[3][4]
Achar orchare was a term (of work) in the sixteenth century,[5] which gave rise to the word being used as a prefix to denote people working in domestic service. The usage of "charwoman" was common in the mid-19th century, often appearing as an occupation in theUK census of 1841. It fell out of common use in the later decades of the 20th century, often replaced by the term "daily (woman)". Unlike amaid orhousekeeper (typically live-in positions), the charwoman usually worked for hourlywages, usually on apart-time contract, often having several different employers.
The position has often featured as a stock character in fiction.
InBritish literature, Victorian examples includes Mrs. Dilber,Ebenezer Scrooge's charwoman, who appears inCharles Dickens'sA Christmas Carol. In the short story "The Diary of Anne Rodway", byWilkie Collins, Anne investigates the murder of her friend Mary and learns that the suspect's wife is a woman "ready to turn her hand to anything: charing,washing,laying-out,keeping empty houses..." A charwoman appears inFranz Kafka'sThe Metamorphosis (1915).[6]
In 1926,Lord Dunsany's fantasy novelThe Charwoman's Shadow was published to good reviews. A woman granted eternal life, but not eternal youth, finds herself working forever as a magician's charwoman.[7]
A charwoman, Sarah Cobbin, is a critical character in the detective novelPart for a Poisoner (1948) byE.C.R. Lorac. In the comic stripAndy Capp (from 1957), Andy's wife Flo is a charwoman. Another well-known fictional charwoman is Ada Harris, the central character inPaul Gallico's novelMrs 'Arris goes to Paris (1958) and its three sequels.
Charwomen have often appeared on stage, radio, film, and television. Themusic hall comedianArthur Lucan portrayed throughout his career a feisty Irish charwoman named Mrs. Riley opposite his wifeKitty McShane, who depicted Mrs Riley's daughter. The public's enthusiasm for these stage characters prompted the couple to make the pair a part of their repertoire and this led to sixteenOld Mother Riley films, from 1937 to 1952. In the radio comedy seriesIt's That Man Again (1939–1949), Dorothy Summers played the part of Mrs Mopp, an office char whosecatchphrase was "Can I do you now, Sir?" (i.e., "May I clean your office now, Sir?" but with an obviousdouble entendre).Coronation Street characterHilda Ogden (Jean Alexander) achieved mass popularity in the United Kingdom, and has become synonymous with charwoman due to her several jobs cleaning for businesses and neighbours in the show's local area,Weatherfield.
In 1963,Peggy Mount starred inLadies Who Do, in which a group of charwomen go into high finance under the guidance of the eccentric Colonel Whitforth (Robert Morley), in order to save their old neighbourhood from a team of ruthless developers led byHarry H. Corbett. In 1966–67,Kathleen Harrison starred as a charwoman who inherits £10 million from her employer, on the television seriesMrs. Thursday. Mabel (played byBarbara New) was the lowly charwoman and a main character in the 1990s BritishsitcomYou Rang, M'Lord?, which was set in the 1920s.
American comedianCarol Burnett made a charwoman character into a signature routine during her television career withGarry Moore and later on her own popularlong-running variety show.
The dictionary definition ofcharwoman at Wiktionary