Modern Heroes, Modern Slaves? Listening to migrant domestic workers’ everyday temporalities

Summary

This article explores the experiences of migrant domestic workers from the Philippines in the UK and Lebanon, critiquing the labels 'modern heroes' and 'modern slaves' often applied to them. The author argues that these terms obscure the everyday exploitation and resistance workers face. Drawing from conversations with workers, the article emphasizes the structural exploitation they experience and the daily struggles they navigate. By focusing on the 'everyday,' the article seeks to challenge dominant narratives, highlighting the expertise and resilience of migrant domestic workers as they fight for their rights and survival.

Takeaways

• 😀 The article critiques the terms 'modern heroes' and 'modern slaves' used to describe migrant domestic workers, arguing that they oversimplify complex realities.
• 😀 'Modern heroes' refers to the glorification of migrant workers who leave their families to send money home, portraying them as self-sacrificial.
• 😀 'Modern slavery' focuses on victimization, often used by humanitarian organizations, but fails to address the systemic, everyday exploitation of workers.
• 😀 Both terms, despite being used in different contexts, function similarly by shifting attention away from the everyday, structural exploitation that migrant workers face.
• 😀 The article emphasizes that these terms ignore the everyday expertise and resilience of migrant workers in dealing with exploitation.
• 😀 The research is based on sound walks, where migrant workers share their stories in locations significant to them, allowing for a deeper understanding of their lived experiences.
• 😀 Amara, a Filipina domestic worker in the UK, rejects the 'victim' label, insisting on her identity as a worker with agency, not a passive victim of trafficking.
• 😀 Amara’s sound walk, created in Piccadilly Circus, highlights her experiences of being undocumented and homeless after escaping her employers.
• 😀 Sarah, a migrant rights activist in Lebanon, emphasizes that the struggle for migrant workers’ rights is grounded in everyday resistance, not just grand moments of change.
• 😀 The article calls for a shift in focus from labels like 'modern heroes' and 'modern slaves' to the everyday scale of exploitation and the expertise migrant workers develop in navigating their challenges.

Q & A

What is the focus of the article discussed in the transcript?

The article focuses on the experiences of migrant domestic workers from the Philippines, specifically those working in the UK and Lebanon. It examines the terms 'modern heroes' and 'modern slaves' and their implications for these workers, as well as the structural exploitation they face.

What are the two terms analyzed in the article, and what do they represent?

The two terms analyzed are 'modern heroes' and 'modern slaves.' 'Modern heroes' refers to the idealized image of overseas Filipino workers who sacrifice for their families, while 'modern slaves' refers to the humanitarian concept focusing on individual victimization of workers without addressing the broader exploitation they face.

What is the criticism of the term 'modern slavery' according to the article?

'Modern slavery' is criticized for focusing on individual victims and perpetrators, rather than addressing the everyday, structural exploitation that migrant domestic workers experience. It oversimplifies the complex realities of these workers' lives.

How does the article suggest the terms 'modern heroes' and 'modern slaves' affect the perception of migrant workers?

The article argues that both terms distract from the everyday realities of exploitation and labor migration. They focus on sensational aspects of success or victimization, rather than acknowledging the continuous struggles and expertise of migrant workers.

How does the author’s research methodology involve migrant domestic workers?

The research involves conversations with migrant domestic workers, recorded in locations significant to them personally or as a community. These conversations are then edited into sound walks, which are posted online for people to listen to and understand the workers' experiences.

What is the significance of Amara’s sound walk in the article?

Amara’s sound walk in Piccadilly Circus highlights her experience of being homeless and undocumented in the UK after escaping her employers. It also emphasizes her resistance to being labeled a victim of trafficking, asserting her identity as a worker rather than a victim.

Why does Amara refuse to identify as a victim of trafficking?

Amara refuses to identify as a victim of trafficking because she wants to be seen as a worker who supports her family, not someone dependent on government or organizational aid. She rejects the label that reduces her to a victim rather than a person with agency.

What role does the concept of 'expertise' play in the article?

The article emphasizes the expertise of migrant workers in navigating and surviving exploitation. It suggests that this everyday expertise—how they manage work conditions, resist abuse, and survive difficult circumstances—is overlooked by both the terms 'modern heroes' and 'modern slaves.'

What is the focus of Sarah’s sound walk in the article?

Sarah’s sound walk, created at a protest for migrant workers' rights in Beirut, reflects the daily struggles and activism of migrant workers. It underscores that real change occurs on the everyday scale, through consistent resistance and persistence.

What does Sarah mean when she says 'one day it will change, the system will change'?

Sarah’s statement reflects the ongoing hope and determination of migrant workers to see systemic change. Despite the challenges, she believes that even small changes, over time, will lead to a better future for migrant workers.