Discussion of Reproductive Labor Division - Article Example

Reflection Essay Summary In this article, Parreñas’ core aim encompasses highlighting the political aspectthat characterizes reproductive labor in relation to globalization. This is by expounding its extent as well as nature in comparison to the developing and industrialized states. In her article, she majorly highlights the “sending states’” economic disparity with that of “receiving states’” economies (Parreñas, 2000, p. 571). Hence, economic disparity based on her study that also aligns with others she has acknowledged act as a core push factor that normally compels numerous women opt to be domestic workers in the developed states. This is despite being professionals in their states, for instance, Filipina women who are the subjects in this article. Author’s objective in this article encompasses discussion of reproductive labor division that characterizes global economy through the lens of Filipina women by highlighting their plight (Parreñas, 2000, p. 560). The author examines its nature and trend as exhibited by transfer of caretaking among the female gender from developing states to the developed as relayed by Filipina women domestic workers who are at the middle. Hence, end up being “wives” and “mothers” in the developed states whereas the receiving states’ women pursue their careers in quest of being at par with their male counterparts. In addition, the author through her work seeks to highlight push economic factors like increased earnings that influence transfer of caretaking in other states despite numerous women holding respective college degrees (Parreñas, 2000). Hence, relaying the core argument of Parreñas’ article, which is women’s division of reproductive work though based on economic status. This is evident in the way middle domestic workers in Los Angeles and Italy or developed states end up liberating their bosses from homebound chores to focus on career pursuits. Similarly, the domestic workers like Carmen have also employed lowly paid domestic workers in their home states who care for their children thus forming a chain (Parreñas, 2000). However, domestic workers while in the quest of heightened pay that will boost their living standards back at home as well as cater for their families’ needs; they end up experiencing painful physical and emotional separation (Parreñas, 2000, p. 576). Since, most of them normally take long while in the receiving states and cannot often commune with their families. This is extremely painful minding the essence of a mother’s presence in each child’s life not only in providing material support but also moral. Hence, many as one expressed end up dealing with insuperable state of loneliness minding how she is busy caring for another woman’s children whereas at home her own are eager to see and have that emotional connection with her (Parreñas, 2000). Key concepts/ideas According to Parreñas (2000), the main push factor that normally influences numerous people including males is due to economic disparity. Since many especially from the developing states prefer accepting domestic chores in the industrialized states, which are better paid with the intention of boosting own families’ standards. This is despite many of them having college degrees and already employed as professionals in their home states. For instance, Carmen’s salary of $1,000 besides other allowances can enable her employ another woman at home for only $40 (Parreñas, 2000, p. 571). In addition, these domestic workers in industrialized states deem once they have reached retiring will be in an elevated position economically to be ordering one around while seated. According to Parreñas (2000), this disparity has significantly increased rate of Filipina domestic workers together with others from diverse states opting to work in industrialized states. Additionally, the other highlighted concept in this article encompasses social consequences. These embrace both positive and adverse witnessed in developing as well as developing whereby in the latter due to partial liberation from their homebound duties end up increasing their households’ income (Parreñas, 2000, p. 570). Hence, augmenting demand for domestic workers who will replace them in undertaking their cores as “wives” and “mothers” while in pursuit of careers. This is quite evident in the case of Carmen who contends her divorcee architect employer is extremely busy to manage her home, hence leaving budgeting and shopping besides other womanly chores to her (Parreñas, 2000, p. 571). However, the text does not expound exactly whether the same case (domestic workers running own employers’ homes) occurs in Carmen’s home in Philippines but brings forth the aspect of emotional suffering on the part of domestic workers in receiving states. In Philippines, Parreñas relays how some fathers are embracing the roles of wives in tending for own children, which is contrary to the culture though highlighted lightly to imply it is not rampant (Parreñas, 2000, 572). Since, relatives especially in Philippines intervene and what emerges evidently and mostly is the presence of laundry women locally referred as “labandera” (Parreñas, 2000, 572). Another emerging aspect that pains both the left behind families and middle domestic workers encompass emotional separation from own families and loneliness. For instance, Carmen inopportunely expresses how she feels when she receives a letter from her son expounding what he undergoes upon seeing other children in the church with own mothers. This is to the extent after church going locking himself up in his room and cry, which terribly inculcates loneliness and guilty in Carmen (Parreñas, 2000, 575). This state coupled with domestic workers seeing how they care for other people’s children or loved ones (including their elderly) immensely pains them. Hence, regretting it was not money will be caring their own but due to inevitable economic hardships push factor they ought to do that. Hence, lead to displaced motherhood in not only receiving states but also sending states like Philippines (Parreñas, 2000, p. 576). “Being in the middle” as Parreñas (2000, p. 573) calls it normally yields to varied adverse social consequences. For instance, it encompasses “downward mobility” whereby a person in the receiving state one ought to keep up with backbreaking manual jobs, which is contrary to what she used to involve herself in Philippines. This despite one having a college degree whereby at home, she used to supervise but once in foreign state it is different because her employer is the one now assumes the ordering position. Hence, they encounter challenges especially initially to adjust to the present environment, which is extremely difficult. However, they comfort themselves contending it worthy because once they retire they will be better in ordering the poorer domestic workers in their homes while living a sedentary life (Parreñas, 2000). Reflection I learnt that contrary to the wish of numerous people especially domestic workers intending to care for own families; it is inevitable they ought to comply with economic push factors (Parreñas, 2000). This is due to the disparity of economies amid developing and industrialized states whereby in the latter earnings are higher compared to the former, which I wholly concur with Parreñas. Hence, many from Philippines ought to migrate and assume degrading jobs in developing states, which they could not in their states due to pay. This is despite having college degrees and even holding high positions in their states but due to the lure of high earnings, they ought to migrate. In addition, I concur with Parreñas’ expounding of reproductive division of labor in her article, which has explicitly revealed humans as “inherently sedentary” though compelled by undefeatable factors out of their comfort. Hence, migrate to other states where they experience loneliness due to separation from their families. This implies despite the lure of numerous things in other regions one’s country, remains a place to long for though he or she may reside long in others. This is quite evident in Parreñas’ participants who in concluding their experiences contend they will return to home states. I also agree with her depiction that, numerous people despite pulled by lure of high pay in industrialized states where they replace their employers to run their homes, they suffer more compared to what they would while with their families. This is especially in terms of physical and emotional separation as exemplified by Carmen’s account (Parreñas, 2000). Reference Parreñas, R. S. 2000. Migrant Filipina Domestic Workers And The International Division Of Reproductive Labor. Gender and Society, 14(4): 560-581 Read More