Caterina Rohde-Abuba, Berlin School of Economics and Law
Olga Tkach, University of Helsinki
Research on au pairs and immigrant nannies has typically focused on migration but also touches on the complex dynamics of care relationships with employing families (Hess 2009; Búriková & Miller 2010; Rohde-Abuba & Tkach 2016). Due to weak regulation, these workers face vulnerability to human rights abuse and exploitation in employing families (Búriková & Miller 2010; Stenum 2011; Chuang 2012). Care relations can be shaped by neo-colonial variants of racism (Rohde-Abuba 2016), requiring significant “emotional labor” from care workers to provide childcare when being mistreated or exploited (Tkach 2016). However, within global care chains, au pair/nanny jobs can also improve the life chances of the workers’ own families, for example, through remittances (Hochschild 2000; Parreñás 2001; Bikova 2017).
This interdisciplinary symposium aims to draw attention to the impact of au pair/nanny work on the children involved. Using empirical data from care workers and children, it explores how working conditions affect child wellbeing and children’s rights as elaborated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Based on qualitative data, Nazlı Akay will evaluate the research and practice in the past ten years concerning the triangular relationship between migrant nannies, parents, and children, and its effects on wellbeing, pointing out to gaps and offering suggestions. Li Xinran examines how au pairs in research interviews critically discuss childcare practices of employing families. Sara Eldén and Terese Anving will present unique interview data with children, who reflect on the role of au pairs and nannies for their individual wellbeing. Mariya Stoyanova Bikova’s ethnographic research will focus on Filipina au pairs’ care practices for their own children and siblings back home.
Papers:
1) Nazlı Akay (Birmingham City University): “Migrant nannies, parenting and well-being: The perspectives from the past and current research”
2) Li Xinran (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg): “Chinese au pairs’ critical reflections on host families’ child-raising practices and children’s wellbeing”
3) Sara Eldén/Terese Anving (both Lund University): “Children’s narratives of nanny and au pair care”
4) Mariya Stoyanova Bikova (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences): “Filipina au pairs’ care relations and practices to their own children and siblings”
Discussants:
Olga Tkach & Caterina Rohde-Abub