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Journal article

"They have more money but I speak better english!" - Transnational encounters between Filipina domestics and Taiwanese employers

Date

2003

Authors

P. C. Lan

Abstract

This article explores how Taiwanese employers and Filipina migrant domestic workers negotiate their class locations and identities, with an emphasis on the symbolic struggles surrounding linguistic exchanges in transnational contexts. Taiwanese newly rich employers validate their middle-classhood with the consumption of migrant labor service and the investment of English tutoring for their children. Filipinas flee underpaid middle-class occupations in their stagnant national economy to work as foreign maids; they maneuver their linguistic capital, inherited from the American colonizer, to enhance their status vis- -vis Taiwanese employers. This South-to-South employment relationship illustrates the ambiguous micropolitics of producing class boundaries. The English language serves as a means of symbolic domination and resistance in their daily communication and job negotiation. [References: 46]

Journal title

Identities-Global Studies in Culture & Power

Volume

10

Notes

Lan PC

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 4 PARK SQUARE, MILTON PARK, ABINGDON OX14 4RN, OXON, ENGLAND. URL: http://www.tandf.co.uk

Links

Economic sectors

Occupations in services - Domestic work and Home child care providers

Target groups

Researchers

Geographical focuses

Philippines and Taiwan

Languages

English