Tagged!

Thanks for the tag, Khaled! I have to say I kinda set it up…seeing this tag go around JP, I brought the book I am reading to the office so I could say it was the nearest one to me when the ‘tag’ came!

“For domestic workers whose duties include care of infants, small chlidren, or sick or elderly family members, work may extend through the night. Jane’s prospective employer specified that she would be requred to attend to the babies and the elderly, even at night. Foreign domestic workers often share rooms with children, providing bottles, diaper changes, and comfort when a child wakes up in the night.”

The book is “Global Woman – Nannies, Maids and Sex Workers In The New Economy” compiled by Arlie Russell Hochschild and Barbara Ehrenreich. This particle essay is entitled: “Filipina Workers in Hong Kong Homes: Household Rules and Relations” by Nicole Constable.

This book was loaned to me by JP’s Into The Wind gal, Lina E. (sorry, I know I should have a proper link there, next time. If I was able to link, I’d include Sandmonkey’s incredible “Ode to Lina” from last month). Thanks so much, Lina!

This is a MUST READ for every employer of an Asian househelper. It is a xenophobia check if there ever was one; we need to be asking when we cross the line and ‘our maid’ becomes an indentured servant.

I tag Jad, Wedad and Arab Observer