Peralta, " 'From where are you back home?': Ethnography of Filipina domestic workers spending Sundays at Statue Square," 2004

Maria Theresa S. Peralta, Ph.D.

Abstract (Summary)
Every Sunday, tens of thousands of Filipina domestic workers gathered together at Statue Square in Hong Kong. This study asked the question, What is the significance of gathering at Statue Square to the Filipina domestics in Hong Kong? The objective was to define the form, function, and meaning of the weekly assemblage. After a pilot study, I found that while working in Hong Kong, my Filipina domestic worker participants lived and worked amid a complex environment with multiple disruptions, which presented potential risks for occupational problems of occupational deprivation, occupational imbalance, and occupational alienation. Thus, this study further asked the question, How does gathering at the square influence the workers' lives amid multiple social, cultural, and occupational disruptions? This ethnography found Sunday at Statue Square to have a potential for alleviating occupational problems among workers. The square is described in this study as a liminal sphere that transformed the place into a provisional society characterized by a special camaraderie of sisterhood. This detachment from the social structures in Hong Kong society alleviated occupational alienation brought about by class discrimination and non-assimilation. Further, during Sundays, a typical day off from work, my participants displayed an enhanced sense of agency at the square for engaging in activities of choice that alleviated occupational deprivation. As such, my participants were able to alleviate occupational imbalance by choosing activities that were of non-work and discretionary as well as acquired various roles that delineated different identities. These chosen activities counterbalanced a week of work and obligatory tasks as well as being only defined as a foreign "maid." This study has implications for occupational therapists to work in public health arenas to assist in alleviating occupational problems. Further research should aim toward understanding the health promoting aspects of occupation.

Advisor: Neville-Jan, Ann