The Help Entry 4: They Give So Much, Yet Receive So Little

          The next few chapters in the book focused a lot on Aibileen. Through the maid’s perspective, I continued to learn a lot about what it was like to be a black maid who worked for a white owner. Although there are some white women who treat their maids decently, there are many who often make the maids’ lives terrible. One of the main characters, Minny, shared some of her experiences she had with her countless rude employers. A lot of the time, the stories showed that these white women took advantage of their maids. They treated them unfairly and made them do things that they would never make a white person do. On example is when Minny shared that Miss. Walter made her pay ten dollars for a crystal glass she accidently broke, white Minny later found out only cost three dollars. It is unfair for a white person to deceive a maid in that way, especially since everyone knows that maids are low on money. She also told Skeeter about a time where her employer made her test out different hair dye colors on her. A little humor is added to this deep novel when Aibileen states about Minny, “Lord, I never seen blue hair on a black woman before or since. Leroy say you look like a cracker from outer space” (227). Even though this comment is funny, the concept behind the comment is clearly wrong. It is unfair that so many employers take advantage of their black maids in order to get what they want. The don’t think about anyone besides themselves, and it does not bother them to insult or hurt their black maids.

            Aibileen continues to share her experiences as a maid in the later chapters. She shows that although it is difficult to work for a white employer, it can also bring happiness into her life. Aibileen is not just a maid who cooks and cleans, but she also takes care of Miss. Leefolt’s daughter, Mae Mobley. Miss. Leefolt is so uninvolved in her three year old daughter’s life that Mae Mobley tells her maid, “Aibee you’re my real mama.” When Aibileen tries to correct her, she insists, “I’m your baby” (285). This part truly shows how involved the maids become in their employers lives. They work all the time and begin to almost become a part of the family. However, the white employers still treat them like an outsider. It surprises me that Aibileen is so good to Miss. Leefolt and her family, yet Miss. Leefolt does not give her the time of day. When Aibileen asks for something, she does not get it, yet Miss. Leefolt expects so much out of her as a maid.