The Labor of Care: Filipina Migrants and Transnational Families in the Digital Age (Asian American Experience)

Anchored in the experiences and lives of Filipina migrants and their families in the Philippines, the main objective of this book is to make visible all of the forms, roles and definitions of social reproductive labor and care work required in the maintenance of the transnational family; demonstrating just how many people are uniquely affected by migration and separation. A second aim is to critically explore current neoliberal moment under which families are forcibly separated and the reconfiguration of the functions, operations and definitions of family in and through the very neoliberal mechanisms that disperse them around the globe--labor migration and technology. Although a significant literature on transnational families exists, this book brings the scholarship up to date on the technological advances that enables intimacy for transnational family members. Additionally, the sociological analysis in this book delves into the emotionality that comes with care work in migration and separation. The transnational Filipino family, as the unit of analysis, shows that care work is shared between migrant and the family they left behind, albeit unevenly. Further, it considers the shifts in gendered work and expectations (for men and women) and it includes fictive kin and extended family to redefine the membership and function of a socially relative dynamic of “family”. Broadly, this book is about the labor of care engaged by families who are enduring and thriving in conditions of forced migration and separation. For Generations, Migration Moved In One Direction At A Time: Migrants To Host Countries, And Money To Families Left Behind. The Labor Of Care Argues That Globalization Has Changed All That. Valerie Francisco-menchavez Spent Five Years Alongside A Group Of Working Migrant Mothers. Drawing On Interviews And Up-close Collaboration With These Women, Francisco-menchavez Looks At The Sacrifices, Emotional And Material Consequences, And Recasting Of Roles That Emerge From Family Separation. She Pays Particular Attention To How Technologies Like Facebook, Skype, And Recorded Video Open Up Transformative Ways Of Bridging Distances While Still Supporting Traditional Family Dynamics. As She Shows, Migrants Also Build Communities Of Care In Their Host Countries. These Chosen Families Provide An Essential Form Of Mutual Support. What Emerges Is A Fascinating Portrait Of Today's Transnational Family--sundered, Yet Inexorably Linked Over The Distances By Timeless Emotions And New Forms Of Intimacy-- The Nature Of Transnational Families Is Such That Separated Members, Both Abroad And Home, Consistently Craft Strategies Of Care Through Technology And Multidirectional Care Work To Cope With The Difficult Sacrifice Of Migration. This Book Is About The Affliction Of Migration And Globalization And The Durability Of Families Through These Circumstances. It Provides Accounts Of The Impact Of Global Care Chains On The Families Of Migrant Women From The Philippines And The Emergence Of New Forms Of Intimacies And Care Work As The Women Navigate And Negotiate The Emotional And Material Consequences Of Family Separation And The Resulting Shifts In Family Gender Dynamics. Drawing On Extensive Fieldwork, Francisco Presents The Self-care Perspective Of Women Of Color Feminism By Showing The Multidirectional Care Work That Occurs With Migration And Investigates The Changes In Family That Come With Migration And Circumstances Where Migrants Are Separated From Their Families Because Of Legal Or Economic Reasons. Anchored In The Experiences And Lives Of Filipino Migrants And Their Families In The Philippines, It Also Describes The Lives Of Many Families From The Global South Who Are Separated From One Another. Francisco Highlights The Way In Which New Technologies Have Become Central To The Reconfiguration Of Family And How Facebook, Skype, And Recorded Videos And Pictures Are Important Components In The Lives Of Migrant Mothers And Their Families Left Behind. Francisco Analyzes The Formation Of Extended Communities Of Migrant Mothers And The Fictive Kinships That Women Apart From Families Of Origin Create Abroad In Their Mother Work Abroad-- Multidirectional Care In Transnational Families -- Skype Mothers And Facebook Children -- Communities Of Care -- Caring Even If It Hurts. Valerie Francisco-menchavez. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. For generations, migration moved in one direction at a time: migrants to host countries, and money to families left behind. The Labor of Care argues that globalization has changed all that. Valerie Francisco-Menchavez spent five years alongside a group of working migrant mothers. Drawing on interviews and up-close collaboration with these women, Francisco-Menchavez looks at the sacrifices, emotional and material consequences, and recasting of roles that emerge from family separation. She pays particular attention to how technologies like Facebook, Skype, and recorded video open up transformative ways of bridging distances while still supporting traditional family dynamics. As she shows, migrants also build communities of care in their host countries. These chosen families provide an essential form of mutual support. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of today's transnational family—sundered, yet inexorably linked over the distances by timeless emotions and new forms of intimacy.| Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Filipino Transnational Families and New Caring Strategies 1. Multidirectional Care in Transnational Families 2. Skype Mothers and Facebook Children 3. Communities of Care 4. Caring Even if It Hurts Conclusion: Producing Transnational Families and Possibilities Embedded Methodological Appendix Appendix A: NYC Interview Guide Appendix B: Manila Interview Guide Appendix C: Flyer for Diwang Pinay Appendix D: Research Questions and Methods Grid Appendix E: Research Methods Triangulation Cycle Notes References Index | "Francisco-Menchavez's deep research provides readers with a finely textured feel for the complex circuits of care within transnational families. Her work, in close collaboration with a Filipino domestic worker support group, is a major contribution to our understanding of Filipina migrant workers in the U.S., the care communities they create in the diaspora, and the relationships they sustain with the family members they have left behind, but who remain present in their emotional and virtual lives."—Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director, National Domestic Workers Alliance "What is unique about Francisco-Menchavez's book is that it injects and offers a sociological perspective—one that is hopeful, uplifting—in the struggles of families to maintain a strengthened intimacy in spite of physical proximity."— Hella Pinay " The Labor of Care is an excellent book that advances our understanding of migration, transnational families, and care work." — Symbolic Interaction | Valerie Francisco-Menchavez is an assistant professor of sociology at San Francisco State University. "The nature of transnational families is such that separated members, both abroad and home, consistently craft strategies of care through technology and multidirectional care work to cope with the difficult sacrifice of migration. This book is about the affliction of migration and globalization and the durability of families through these circumstances. It provides accounts of the impact of global care chains on the families of migrant women from the Philippines and the emergence of new forms of intimacies and care work as the women navigate and negotiate the emotional and material consequences of family separation and the resulting shifts in family gender dynamics. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, Francisco presents the self-care perspective of women of color feminism by showing the multidirectional care work that occurs with migration and investigates the changes in family that come with migration and circumstances where migrants are separated from their families because of legal or economic reasons. Anchored in the experiences and lives of Filipino migrants and their families in the Philippines, it also describes the lives of many families from the Global South who are separated from one another. Francisco highlights the way in which new technologies have become central to the reconfiguration of family and how Facebook, Skype, and recorded videos and pictures are important components in the lives of migrant mothers and their families left behind. Francisco analyzes the formation of extended communities of migrant mothers and the fictive kinships that women apart from families of origin create abroad in their mother work abroad"-- Provided by publisher Together but apart in a globalized world For generations, migration moved in one direction at a time: migrants to host countries, and money to families left behind. The Labor of Care argues that globalization has changed all that. Valerie Francisco-Menchavez spent five years alongside a group of working migrant mothers. Drawing on interviews and up-close collaboration with these women, Francisco-Menchavez looks at the sacrifices, emotional and material consequences, and recasting of roles that emerge from family separation. She pays particular attention to how technologies like Facebook, Skype, and recorded video open up transformative ways of bridging distances while still supporting traditional family dynamics. As she shows, migrants also build communities of care in their host countries. These chosen families provide an essential form of mutual support. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of today's transnational family—sundered, yet inexorably linked over the distances by timeless emotions and new forms of intimacy. For generations, migration moved in one direction at a time: migrants to host countries, and money to families left behind. The Labor of Care argues that globalization has changed all that. Valerie Francisco-Menchavez spent five years alongside a group of working migrant mothers. Drawing on interviews and up-close collaboration with these women, Francisco-Menchavez looks at the sacrifices, emotional and material consequences, and recasting of roles that emerge from family separation. She pays particular attention to how technologies like Facebook, Skype, and recorded video open up transformative ways of bridging distances while still supporting traditional family dynamics. As she shows, migrants also build communities of care in their host countries. These chosen families provide an essential form of mutual support. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of today's transnational family sundered, yet inexorably linked over the distances by timeless emotions and new forms of intimacy. Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction: Filipino Transnational Families and New Caring Strategies......Page 20 1. Multidirectional Care in Transnational Families......Page 48 2. Skype Mothers and Facebook Children......Page 84 3. Communities of Care......Page 113 4. Caring Even if It Hurts......Page 137 Conclusion: Producing Transnational Families and Possibilities Embedded......Page 163 Methodological Appendix......Page 181 Appendix A: NYC Interview Guide......Page 204 Appendix B: Manila Interview Guide......Page 208 Appendix C: Flyer for Diwang Pinay......Page 212 Appendix D: Research Questions and Methods Grid......Page 214 Appendix E: Research Methods Triangulation Cycle......Page 216 Notes......Page 218 References......Page 230 Index......Page 246