Diversity in an Israeli intersectional analysis: The salience of employment arrangements and inter-personal relationships

This paper compares the work experiences of cleaning employees in Israel from three ethno-national categories - immigrants from the FSU, women from two Arab towns, and Mizrahi women in the southern periphery - as a basis for a systematic analysis of local gender/class/ethno-national intersectionality. The findings underscore the structural processes that expose women of ethnic minorities to the pressures of breadwinning motherhood, and revealed their dependence on cleaning and its diverse employment arrangements. Aside from this inter-ethnic commonality, the fragmentation of employment arrangements points to sources of diversity in women's experiences. Opportunities for inter-personal encounters shaped by specific employment arrangements were found to generate distinct experiences. These opportunities equip women with knowledge enabling them to cope in the community, family and at work. The significance of the emerging diversity for intersectional analysis is discussed.