The Aging of Migrant Domestic Workers

Rhacel Parreñas' talk addresses the question of what happens to migrant domestic workers when they reach retirement age. Focusing on Italy and the United States, the talk establishes the precarious condition of retirement for migrant domestic workers. It establishes that their low wages and lack of guarantee for social security could prevent retirement, resulting in a crop of migrant domestic workers who are indefinitely bound to servility. This paper draws from a collaborative research project with Jennifer Nazareno that was funded by Atlantic Philanthropies.

Rhacel Salazar Parreñas is the Chair and Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at the University of Southern California. Her current research looks at the interface of human trafficking and labour migration, and compares foreign domestic workers in Dubai & Singapore. Dr. Parreñas received the American Sociological Association (ASA) Distinguished Scholarly Book Award in the area of Labor Movement. She is also the recipient of funding from Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and National Science Foundation.

Event Sponsor
Department of Sociology, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Joy Lacanienta, (808) 956-7693, socdept@hawaii.edu, http://www.sociology.hawaii.edu/index.html

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