.jpg) Houseboy with child in New Guinea, c. 1930s | |
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
Occupation type | Domestic labour |
Activity sectors | Housework |
| Description | |
Related jobs | Maid |
Houseboy is a term which refers to a typically male domestic worker or personal assistant who performs cleaning and other forms of personal chores. The term has a record of being used in the British Empire and the military.
Historically, houseboy was a term used in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for a male domestic servant. Houseboys were usually, but not always, native people who worked for a British family living in the non-British regions of the empire. A female housecleaner was termed a housegirl. Both sexes often wore uniform, due to their status as domestic servants.
Houseboy was also used as an American slang term originating in the Second World War for a young teenager who helped American soldiers perform basic responsibilities like cleaning, laundry, ironing, shoe-shining, running errands, etc. The British English term for this occupation was 'Batman'.
