houseboys
Male household staff
A houseboy is a male domestic servant, typically one who performs general household duties such as cleaning, serving meals, and running errands.
The term carries colonial connotations, having been used extensively in Africa and Asia during European colonial rule to describe local men employed in European households.
Today the word is considered offensive or outdated in many contexts due to its association with racial hierarchy and servitude.
The colonial administrator employed several houseboys at his residence.
Male domestic employee
- domestic servantPaid household employee
- attendantOne who assists others
- aideSupporting staff member
- helperOne who aids another
valet · steward · batman · orderly · retainer · domestic worker
Domination through foreign settlement
- plantationLarge-scale farming operation
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- British RajImperial rule over India
- exploitationSelfish use of others
racial hierarchy · master · bwana · sahib · memsahib · indentured · domestic service · post-colonial
Removing dirt and mess
- laundryItems needing cleaning
- ironingSmoothing cloth with heat
- dustingRemoving surface grime
- moppingCleaning floors with water
sweeping · polishing · tidying · vacuuming · washing dishes · cooking · meal preparation · grocery shopping
Excessive willingness to please
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- subordinationLower position in hierarchy
- docilityReadiness to submit
compliance · submissiveness · obsequiousness · meekness · humility · dutifulness · fawning · acquiescence
manservant
Male domestic employee
- domestic servantPaid household employee
- attendantOne who assists others
- aideSupporting staff member
helper · valet · steward · batman · orderly · retainer · domestic worker
colonialism
Domination through foreign settlement
- plantationLarge-scale farming operation
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- British RajImperial rule over India
exploitation · racial hierarchy · master · bwana · sahib · memsahib · indentured · domestic service · post-colonial
cleaning
Removing dirt and mess
mopping · sweeping · polishing · tidying · vacuuming · washing dishes · cooking · meal preparation · grocery shopping · errands
servility
Excessive willingness to please
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- subordinationLower position in hierarchy
docility · compliance · submissiveness · obsequiousness · meekness · humility · dutifulness · fawning · acquiescence · sycophancy
houseboyshousemaids
Live-in domestic cleaners
maids · housegirls · chambermaids · charwomen · scullery maids
houseboysmasters
Those with dominion
employers · householders · colonial masters · mistresses · landowners
houseboysbutlers
Head household servants
valets · housemen · majordomos · manservants · stewards