Race/immigrants/ethnicity ....
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Anonymous
| Does Race/Ethnicity/immigrants/nationality play a factor in your choice for a nanny? I noticed on these forums and sites that speaking another language or being something other than American is a bonus. Why is that? Also even if you you are American does any of these play a factor? Be honest. |
Anonymous
Last week I almost get a job,but the lady just call me and say this,Sorry I can't hire you because you don't speak spanish,she's want me to teach her kids to speak spanish.. |
Anonymous
| Dh and I are white Americans and race/ethnicity/nationality don't matter. We don't care if someone is an immigrant, so long as they are legal. We did want someone who spoke another language to teach DC. Their current nanny is teaching them Spanish and Arabic (DH speaks Arabic and wanted DC to learn as well and it just so happened that the nanny we loved also spoke Arabic). She is African American |
Anonymous
| In my experience, being an white American is a HUGE advantage - far too much so. I speak French but that has never gotten me a job. |
Anonymous
| Immigrant could possibly be a drawback--if the nanny still has lots of family in her home country and will frequently want long vacation breaks to go back and visit... |
Anonymous
| OP here, I honestly think it's immigrants who have it easier. I often get declined because I am Anerican. Even with so many other qualifications. |
Anonymous
We wanted a nanny who would teach our kids French. That's what we looked for and found. |
Anonymous
How old are your children and how many hours a week is the nanny with them? |
Anonymous
| In Southern California, being an American nanny (and white) is a definite plus - it shouldn't be but it is. Twice I have had women, who only saw me walk a sleeping infant in the stroller, that my charge was so lucky to have me as a nanny. They had no other way to judge how "lucky" my charge is except for my race and native English. |
Anonymous
| Yeah I'm "African American" and most of the time people think the children I nanny for are my own. But when a foreign nanny walks by they don't. |
Anonymous
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I think it all depends on where you live at.
I live in So Cal and pretty much everyone out here wants to speak Spanish since knowing it can get you better jobs. So many families prefer to hire someone who can speak Spanish to their children. I do not speak the language and find myself losing positions to Hispanic nannies. Also, many Hispanic nannies in my area are illegal immigrants and work under the table for less than minimum wage so they are a double bonus for many families. |
Anonymous
| We are a bilingual family (English/Spanish) and therefore we choose someone who spoke Spanish. DH is a native, but speaks English almost always to the kids. |
Anonymous
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I have the advantage of looking white but being an educated Hispanic nanny. It truly depends on your area but I never lose desirable jobs. I have had a few families meet me and tell me they are looking for a native speaker. when I tell them I'm fluent, they tell me they want a Hispanic women. They are flabbergasted when I inform them I am indeed 100% Hispanic and we come in all shades. Usually, those are the families who are trying to find someone to take advantage of but attempt to word it so they don't sound like assholes. They can't straight out say they want an illegal immigrant.
In this country, being non-white is overall a huge disadvantage and having seen/felt the ignorance and racism, there is no denying it. If you are losing jobs, than they weren't great jobs to begin with or you live in area that is saturated with cheaper options that drive prices down. Most nannies where I live make the same amount no matter their race or legal status, higher pay is given for experience and education. |
Anonymous
+1 a lot of families feel that I can offer the best of both worlds, so I often have my pick of jobs. I will say that like PP, I do get a fair amount of families that simply see my name on my profile, and are shocked to find out that they aren't getting an illegal bargain nanny. You want your kids to learn Spanish? Got it. You want them exposed to proper English as well? Got it. You want someone with my background, who will work under the table for $6/hour? Are you freaking kidding me? |
Anonymous
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MB here. Race/ethnicity/etc... did not play a factor in our hiring.
We consider it a bonus that our kids are learning some spanish from their nanny, but honestly I would almost rather that her english be more fluent. Regardless, she was the most comfortable choice/best fit for our family (and not the cheapest FWIW). |