“The Filipino nanny is the Mercedes Benz amongst the international [caregivers].”
-Rhacel Salazar Parreñas
The experiences of migrant domestic workers in Arab states, as explored by Rhacel Salazar Parreñas in her book “Unfree: Migrant Domestic Workers in Arab States,” provide an enlightening study about gender, class, labor, and migration that can be effectively analyzed through the lens of Marxist feminism to better understand this complex issue. Before discussing the Marxist feminist perspective, let’s review the context if you are not yet familiar with it (or with this insightful book!). Migrant domestic workers, predominantly women, leave their home countries, often in Southeast Asia or Africa (the book’s focus is on women from the Philippines, specifically), to seek employment in the wealthy oil-rich Arab states. These women work in households as cleaners, nannies, and caregivers for the elderly. In doing so, they leave behind their own families to support them financially, exposing themselves to a host of challenges, including poor working conditions, lack of legal protections, and social isolation.
The tensions between Marxism and feminism stem from the tendency of Marxism to underestimate the specific gender-based challenges faced by these workers, but Marxist feminism and the experiences of migrant domestic workers in the Arab states align in their emphasis on the oppressive influence of capitalism on women’s lives. Moreover, Marxist feminism, as a theoretical framework, offers a tool to examine the issues within this dynamic. This perspective contends that the oppressive systems of capitalism and patriarchy intertwine, mutually reinforcing each other. When applied to the experiences of migrant domestic workers, the infantilization and dehumanization (Parreñas identifies these as cultures of treatment towards the migrant domestic workers, in addition to recognition) they face are unveiled as a product of these intertwined systems.
In the Arab states, the powerful capitalist economies and its families rely on low-cost, flexible domestic labor. This reliance not only sustains the capitalist system but also perpetuates patriarchal norms. Migrant domestic workers, predominantly women, are seen as expendable labor within this system. Their work is undervalued, and their rights are often disregarded as many of them work tirelessly in unjust conditions to earn money, which is sometimes illegally withheld from them by their employers, for their survival and for their loved ones at home. These women simultaneously face gender-based discrimination and the exploitation of their labor. Without understanding these simultaneous conditions and intersectionality, efforts to provide legal or monetary aid and advocacy to these women are often misguided and do not comprehensively address the diverse labor conditions they face.
The issues raised in “Unfree” are not isolated but reflect broader global dynamics. Understanding the intersection of class, gender, and migration in the context of migrant labor is crucial for addressing the injustices faced by these marginalized populations. These perspectives encourage us to continuously refine our theoretical and practical tools for achieving a more inclusive and equitable society. By understanding the complexities of migrant labor through the lens of Marxist feminism, we may become better equipped to advocate for change with these resilient women in their pursuit of a better life for themselves and their families as they exercise “antipower” and take control of negotiations regarding their labor conditions.