Interview with a 30-Year-Old Filipina Nurse - Assignment Example

1Social Analysis – Interview and Report Introduction I have decided to interview, a 30 year old Filipina Nurse, and a single mom with one child. From an ethical stand point, you will note that I have not included her name. I assured her that I would not, ethics notwithstanding, because I knew in my heart of hearts that the offer and existence of anonymity would generate candid responses. I informed her of the exact nature of the interview and it was crystal clear to her, that someone other than I, would be reading her comments, she pointed out that she would not like to have details of her life, past or present to be publicized There are glaring differences in our past and present lives; she was born and reared in the Philippines, was the fourth child in a brood of twelve, and her father was a day laborer, which means he did not have a regular job, and she recants some of the hard times, when there was barely enough food to go around, when her fathers work was scarce.In spite of this adjunct poverty, she proclaims that her parents were compassionate, loving and God fearing They recognized that she was a bright child, and in spite of being a girl, they robustly supported her desire to receive an education. UNGEI, under the sponsorship of UNICEF, has been tracking the progress or lack thereof, of countries around the world on the governments’ attitudes towards educating girls. In a report on the status of education of girls in developing countries, it reports that, in East Asia and the Pacific, gender parity has been achieved in most countries in the region. The Philippines has worked strenuously on various poverty reduction strategies to achieve this objective. The recognition and acknowledgement of the intellectual capacity of girls has led to more financial assistance for the disadvantaged.1 Interview Text and Report She was the beneficiary of educational grants and scholarships from grade one, and throughout her college career. Without this assistance, she would not have been financially able to pursue her dreams. Most of the literature which was reviewed on the education of girls in the Philippines, indicated that if a girls lives in or near an urban area where the school is in close proximity to their residences, then the girls are prone to be attendees. However, as in the case of my interviewee, girls whose residences are situated in rural areas, are less prone to attend school. In the Philippines, the government does not make any accommodation to transport students to school. As a rule, the family does not have the financial resources necessary, to pay for public transportation on a daily basis. She points out, even though the Philippines has had two female presidents, it remains to be a macho oriented culture. The common practice, is to have the girls serve as keepers of the house. She describes this practice as discriminatory, which has a long range negative impact, upon the lives of young women. She provided the following explanation for hear assessment; If a girls seeks to obtain a decent job outside of the household, she must be equipped with the minimum of two years of college, to even work at a fast food restaurant. If she has high school or less, then her choices are very limited. This practice of relegating girls to illiteracy, dictates that if they are going to earn money, they can either become housemaids, or become prostitutes. She can not earn much money working as a housemaid in the Philippines, (her salary is probably twelve hundred to two thousand pesos per month. The dollar equivalent is US$40 to $ 45 per month). As a consequence, if she is going to help her family, she must apply for overseas work, and then she still only earns maybe $200 dollars per month. She goes on to point out, this is an option which is taken with a considerable amount of reluctance, because there are a lot of horror stories surrounding the lives of Filipina maids abroad. According to the Philippine Overseas Labour Office-Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) in Dubai, out of the estimated 220,000 Filipinos residing in the UAE, around 40,000 are working as housemaids. The factors surrounding abuse cases vary. Sometimes female employers get jealous of the housemaids. In other cases, the pressures of the current lifestyle has made the employers stress prone and hot-tempered. And in some cases, there are employers who do not respect their housemaids as a fellow human being.2 Incidents of abuse and inhumane treatment are not alien complaints. There are also volumes upon volumes of documented cases where Filipina housemaids are being paid slave wages.For example, the typical housemaid works 12 to 14 hour shifts, six to seven days per week. At a rate of $200 per month or sixty-nine cents per hour. The Philippine government has intervened on behalf of these young uneducated and vulnerable women, in an attempt to right the wrongs of past misdeeds. The Philippine government recently ruled that housemaids who work abroad must now be paid $400 a month. The minimum age of housemaids who go to work outside the Philippines will now be 25, allowing them to finish their schooling, have training in how to use household appliances, and learn some basic Arabic. Placement fees will also be abolished.3 My interviewee feels that had not the government initiated their policy of placing minor emphasis on educating girls during her school days, she would have been relegated to working as a housemaid, and more than likely, she would as she has, traveled abroad for higher wages than those being offered at home. Even today as a registered nurse in her native Philippines, a young nursing graduate finds it difficult to manage their lives on the salaries which they are being paid by Philippine hospitals. She contends that it is a natural occurrence for individuals who are residents in a third world country, to have the desire to cast their fate in a place where there are more opportunities. This as she puts it, is true for Philippine common laborers and professionals as well. She says, its purely a matter of economics. There is a prevailing inequality of economic opportunity which permeates the Philippines. She is cognizant of the assertion that with so many Philippine nurses leaving the Philippines to pursue the dream of a better life, represents a clear ‘brain drain’ on the country’s resources. But she says, it is understandable, because the remittances of Philippine overseas workers to the families back home, represents a financial windfall for the Philippine government. As a consequence, it is even inevitable, that the brain drain persist. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Rosalinda Baldoz also reported that government officials from Southern Australia are in the country to meet with local recruitment agencies. She said Australia is expected to hire about 300,000 Filipino workers in the next three to five years. “At this time of economic crisis, Filipinos will always try to find ways to continue sending their children to schools and meet other demands of their families and overseas employment is giving them hope..4 In 2005, out of the 21,500 foreign-trained registered nurses who sat for the Certification Program Nurse Qualifying Exam, administered by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), 55% were educated in the Philippines.5 She has been living and working in Australia now for six years, yet she says she clings tenaciously to most of her cultural values, particularly her religious beliefs, which are based on Catholicism. She says that her abiding faith placed her in a life altering situation, when she became pregnant four years ago. The father of the child, did not desire to be married, so she had to make a decision. Her faith specifically precludes her from having an abortion, yet she was unsure if she could live the stigma of being an unwed mother. Abortion is strictly illegal in the Philippines and the government under President Arroyo has been promoting chastity education, natural family planning and the traditional Philippine culture in its protection of life and family.6 She intimates that her predicament placed her in conflict with life long religious values, the law of her country, the values of her family, and the many challenges, all of which she was not keenly aware of, but she knew laid ahead, regardless of her decision. She said, she was caught between a rock and a hard place, as she envisioned her career taking a nose dive, and the most haunting thought of all was,. What would her family think of her? After a considerable amount of soul searching, she said she followed her faith and her heart. She laments, what woman does not want to have the joy in their life which only a baby can deliver. She believed that this was something which happened for a reason. One which she was not quite sure about at that juncture, but she said she decided to maintain her faith in God, and she went on to give birth to her daughter. She says she has never personally experienced any sort of discrimination, but she had been forewarned by some of her fellow Filipina nurses, that it would be to her advantage, to remain vigilant on the job. She intimates that this caution came from seasoned veterans who had migrated to Australia in the late seventies and early eighties. She said these Filipina nurses were old school nurses, mostly retired who had experienced certain unethical situations first hand, or were merely conveying the experiences of old friends. The Embassy reiterated its warning to the public to be very circumspect when dealing with recruiters and migration agents.  Ambassador Ortega advised Filipinos: Don't fall into the trap of empty promises. The surest way for OFWs to gain employment in Australia is through the employer nomination scheme (ENS) of the skills migration program. Even then, OFWs wishing to work in Australia should know their entitlements before agreeing to sign the job contracts..7 She points out that even though these types of practice have been reported, and that women are particularly vulnerable, she has never personally been victimized. Additionally she has never experienced any type of gender discrimination or stratification. She attributes this to the fact that nursing remains to be a female dominated profession, and the emphasis of everyone involved in the profession at the hospital level is to provide the best care available. This enables those who are competent, dedicated and responsible to receive on the job recognition and rewards. She lifts her head a little when she said, It has never mattered that the ethnicity of a nurse would interfere with assignments. The atmosphere as she puts it on the job, is to maintain as much tranquility and normalcy, as is reasonably possible. She said it is not always easy to forge new social relationships, particularly those which are cross-cultural. She mentions again, the first serious love affair she ever had, which did not exactly present the outcome which she had hoped for. She said she spends most of her time off with her daughter, and she is devoted to giving her as much quality time as she can. In most of her social activities, she tends to gravitate towards those who share her values; she and her daughter spend time with the families of some Filipina colleagues, and there are several Philippine organizations, which are based in her locality, and she utilizes these outlets for her social and spiritual needs. Conclusion She is passionate about her gravitation towards people of her likeness, because she has such a strong appreciation for her culture, and she feels somewhat guilty, that she has to rear her daughter in a foreign country. Apart from her grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. She explains that Filipino families are very close, and she values a perpetuation of the bonds. However, her affiliations provide her and her daughter with a semblance of home, and as she points out, all of our friends from the Philippines living in the states are now our family, and we theirs. We all understand each others pain. That if not for the economics, we would all be home. Methodology After I decided to interview a Filipina nurse, I inquired among friends whether they knew, or knew someone who was acquainted with a lady, who might be interested in sharing with me, for this assignment. I received a list of three persons, and I informally met with each one of them, along with the friend who provided the introduction. I did not inform either of the ladies of my specific intent, but I wanted someone whose background and current lifestyle would dicatomize my own. Both of the ladies whom I did not select were married, with school age children, and one of them had a upper middle class childhood. When I made my decision, I phoned the prospective interviewee and informed her of my assignment. She found the idea fascinating and we were left with establishing the ground rules. I informed her that the interview would only consist of five open ended questions. I also informed her that I would at all cost, respect her privacy, and that at no point in my final report, would I mention her name. Moreover, I would not even mention the city where the interview was being conducted. On the matter of conducting the interview, I wanted to make the setting as comfortable for her as was possible. As a consequence, I offered to conduct the interview at her residence. She was amenable to this venue. It was my wish to conduct an interview which would be on the order of an open discussion between two adult women. I did not wish that I would be compelled to prompt her with a question to receive the broadest breadth of responses. I instructed her to feel free to respond as openly and as candidly as she wished. The interview lasted for the better part of two hours, and I have found another friend. References UNGEI (United Nations girls education initiative) a UNICEF sponsored project, Retrieved on line on July 21,2008, from www.ungei.org Diala, C.E., (2006), Of Filipina housemaids, abused by employers and repatriation, Khallej Times October 7, 2006 Flanagan, B. (2007) Philippines ‘Maid’ the right decision, Arabian Business, January 22, 2007, retrieved in line on July 21, 2008, from www.Arabiannews.com Jaymalin, M., (2008) Prospects for skilled overseas foreign worker bright, Retrieved on line on July 22, 2008, from www.philstar.com Press Gallery (2005) DFA warns public against illegal recruitment in Australia, retrieved on line on July 22, 2008, from www.philippineconsulate.com Baklinski, T.M., (2008), Philippine president orders national drive to “Shun abortion as a health and moral hazard, Catholic on line U.S.News January 19, 2008, Retrieved on line on July 21, 2008, from www.catholic.org Interview questions and transcript 1. How many sisters and brothers were in your household, and how would you characterize your childhood? I have eleven siblings. I am the fourth child. Both of my parents were present in the house. They were very simple God fearing people. On Sundays and special catholic celebrations, my mother would herd us all together, and we would be off to church. Even though some among my siblings did not have regular shoes to wear, (they would be relegated to wearing chinellas, you refer to them here in the states as flip-flops), our clothes were clean, albeit hand-me-downs. I never saw a new dress until I graduated from college. My mother bought all of our clothes from second hand clothes stores, (in the Philippines we call it Ukai- Ukai). Sic years ago, I visited a friend who resides in another city and we went shopping. She said we were going to visit some of the vintage clothing stores. I did not want to appear as though I just got off of the boat, so I just said, okay, that sounds like fun. Much to my surprise, when we arrived, it was no more than a Ukai- Ukai. I received the surprise of my short stay up to this point. She wondered why I was so giggly, and I told her, I did not realize that Australians wore used clothing. She said even though most Australians have more money than Filipinos, there are some Australians who have more money than most. These people only wear the item for one season, then they give it away. We examined fur coats, suedes of all types cashmere and leather. I wish there was a similar Ukai-Ukai in this city, but there is only goodwill. My parents got married at a very young age, and they are still both living. My father was a day laborer, I guess in the state side context, he would be classified as a skilled laborer, because he was a carpenter. We were very poor, and at meals my father would always admonish us, you can take all you want, but eat all you take. 2. You have indicated that you were very poor and that there were twelve siblings, I have heard reports that a family particularly a poor family might place more emphasis on educating a boy, rather than a girl. Are any of your other siblings graduates of college programs? What you have heard was very true, If a girl grows up in an urban area, say like Mainla, then she is almost assured of an education. On the other hand, I grew up in a rural community and the government unlike the educational system in the United States, does not provide public transportation for those students who are not within walking distance of the school. I was fortunate in two areas. There were so many of us, including seven boys, that there was always a brother who was enrolled in school. Even though the proximity was a challenge, I had company. Additionally, my teachers were a continued source of support. They kept telling my parents that I was talented, and it would not be fair, if they did not continue to sacrifice to allow me to attend classes. After I graduated elementary, it was clear that my parents were experiencing tough times, because at this time, there were four siblings below me, also in school. Fortunate for me, my teachers knew of my family’s dilemma, and they arranged for me to get a scholarship, to defray my high school expenses. Unlike in the states, even a public school education has fees attached. My three brothers, who were my elder, had at this time, began to work alongside my father. I made a pact with my parents that if I were allowed to continue, then I would assist them, in educating the remaining eight. After high school, my grades were so good, until I received a full scholarship to attend nursing school. When I began work in the states, I have assisted in supporting my parents and now we only have one member of the family lift to educate.My first three brothers are only elementary graduates and are all married. My siblings and I have made a pact to educate the children of the three who blazed the path and made the sacrifice for the rest of us. In the Philippines, this is what family is all about. In the Philippines, it is very difficult to find jobs, and for girls, it is even more difficult, because they are usually the less educated. The Philippines, even thogh it is a third world country, has had two female presidents. However, this has done little to elevate the status of the common everyday female in the eyes of the men in power. They have a Victorian mentality, that the woman’s place is in the home, having babies and taking care of the husbands needs. It is only due to outside pressures, and the needs highlighted by those who leave the country, that an incremental attitude adjustment is beginning to foreshadow some of the decisions affecting women and girls. We Filipinos de not see it as a good thing that so many of us leave our country for foreign shores, and many of our countrymen accuse us of contributing to the brain drain. But on the other hand, they realize that a professional can earn much more money abroad, than they would receive working in hospitals in my country. It is not so much the American dream which most of us seek, but merely to have a better quality of life.Also, it turns out to be good news and bad news, because, we contribute a considerable amount of dollars to the macro Philippine economy. 3. You have indicated that you are a catholic, I have learned that more than 85% of the Philippine population is catholic, and that there is actually no real distinction between church and state. I guess, what I am getting at is that the relationship between church and state is so interrelated, that to be at odds with the church is to be at odds with the government. How did this impact your decision, when you learned that you were pregnant? You are correct, the laws of the Philippines are built upon the tenents of catholicism. I was really torn when I found out that I was in a family way. Particularly when the father of the child told me he was not ready to assume the responsibilities of fatherhood or marriage. This means that if I were to let my pregnancy reach term, the baby would never have a father and I would not have a husband. I had only been in the states for two years when this happened, and I was still establishing my bearings. This threw me for a loop. In the immediate, I thought of what my co-workers would think of me, having been duped and dumped. Then I wondered what would be the reaction of my immediate family members. Then I thought about my options. When I look upon this area in retrospect, I realized that given the circumstances, there was only one option open to me. I could have had an abortion and no one on the face of this earth, except the fetus’father, would have known the difference. However, it is absolutely illegal in the Philippines to have an abortion. Moreover, it ran counter to my faith. Even though I had bad thoughts of the impact of being an unwed mother, on the consequences of my nursing career. The most pressing thought in this regard, was how can I earnestly say that I am a health care professional, and am here to advise and counsel others, when I am not able to take care of myself. It was all about judgment. 4. As one mother to another, do you believe that your untimely pregnancy was a help or hindrance to you? After I took hold of my senses, my collective perspective made me realize that this was something I had always wanted. Perhaps, the time and circumstances were not exactly ideal, but what is being a woman all about. I said to myself, what woman does not seek the joy and satisfaction, which only and offspring brings into her life. I made my daughter the center of my universe, and considered her to be a gift from God. No, she has presented me with challenges, but no, she has not been a hindrance. As a matter of fact, she has enabled me to be more grounded. If ever I am presented with the same set of circumstances again, I would make the same choices. 5. Have you ever experienced an level of discrimination, prejudice or sexual stratification while in the states, either from your employment or in your social life? We Filipinos maintain a very close and open network with each other. There is even a national association of nurses, which has local chapters. Some of the members are those women who arrived in the states in the late 70’s and early 80’s and they share their stories about how things once were. There are accounts of how Philippine nurses were once given stipends instead of salaries. Also, accounts of how head nurses would assign Filipinos, the less desirable shifts and assignments. Because we have a strong mentoring system, and because of the long history of association, I am proud to say, that most of the unfair treatment has all but disappeared. Because nursing is predominately a female based profession, there are rare instances where a glass ceiling is even apparent. As professionals, everyone who works together are keenly aware of the capabilities of those around them. As a consequence, the person with the most seniority and the most experienced and skilled, usually gets the promotion, based on merit. As far as my social life is concerned, My daughter and I have maintained alliances with the family and friends of other Filipino nationals, mostly nurses and their families. We serve as the extended family for each other, because we all share a common bond and purpose; furtherance of our Philippine values and economics. To be sure, I am not totally happy about rearing my daughter in the states, but this is where I can provide a better quality of life for the both of us. Of course, she does not get to know her immediate relatives, but she has so many others, who are the same likeness as she, and this provides the cultural bridge which she desperately needs. The long winded response to your question is, no. We do not attempt to impose neither our will nor our way upon others, and I totally reject, them attempting to impose upon me. I stay clear of things which are controversial, and I cling tenaciously to that which I am most familiar. As Filipinos we stick together, because we know that we are all in this together, and if it were not for the terrible economic conditions in our country, many of us would still be home. Read More