Journal Article

Rethinking differences and inequality at the age of globalization

Ada Cheng, Shu‐Ju

2013

Overview

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to use the case of white immigrant women domestics' experiences in migration to demonstrate that their work experiences are different due to their whiteness. While their racial identity provides them with white privileges, they still face discrimination based on their occupational and immigrant statuses. The case study adds to existing literature on domestic service. Design/methodology/approach - The case study is based on several years of ethnographic work. The author conducted in-depth interviews with Polish immigrant women and white female employers. The author also held focus groups with Polish women. Findings - White immigrant women from Poland do not automatically assume the white racial identity in the USA. Their whiteness is constructed and reinforced through their interactions with their white female employers. Their whiteness renders their experiences different from racial minority women and immigrant women of color. However, Polish domestics construct their positive work identity to counteract the negative images about them and domestic service as an occupation. Research limitations/implications - The main limitation the author sees is that the author could have conducted interviews with Mexican immigrant women to compare the differences in terms of their working conditions. Practical implications - While Polish domestics seem to have better experiences than other groups of immigrant women, domestic workers are excluded from the labor law. They are thus without the protection of labor law. It is important for us to work for the right of immigrant workers to eradicate the inequality in society. Social implications - This case shows that the transnational labor migration contributes to further inequality in society since it is usually the migrant workers who take up the low skilled or unskilled work that has few possibilities for promotion and has few benefits. The government needs to address the transnational migration process and the exploitation of migrant workers ensuing from the process. Originality/value - Polish immigrant women are a unique group of women mainly because they are among the few white women who perform domestic service. Their experiences are different from racial minority women and immigrant women of color. Merging the whiteness approach and domestic service is an innovative approach.

• Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subject: Case studies / Conventions / Developing countries / Discrimination / Domestic service / Employers / Employment / Employment policies / Ethnic identity / Ethnography / Exploitation / Females / Feminism / Gender / Globalization / Immigrants / Immigration policy / Industrialized nations / Inequality / Informal economy / International organizations / Interviews / Labor law / Labor migration / Law / LDCs / Middle class / Migrant workers / Migrants / Migration / Minority & ethnic groups / Minority groups / Noncitizens / Occupations / Polish Americans / Race / Racial identity / Scholars / Slavic cultural groups / Social activism / Social inequality / Society / Transnationalism / Wages & salaries / White people / Women / Work / Work skills / Working conditions / Writers