Care Activism: Migrant Domestic Workers, Movement-Building, and Communities of Care

Care activism challenges the stereotype of downtrodden migrant caregivers by highlighting their distinct ways of caring for themselves, each other, and the larger transnational community of care workers and their families. It extends the daily work of caregivers, instills practices of resistance and critical hope, and unifies caregivers to resist societys legal and economic devaluations of care and domestic work.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2023
Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Care activism is a powerful movement that challenges the stereotype of downtrodden migrant caregivers by highlighting their distinct ways of caring for themselves, each other, and the broader transnational community of care workers and their families. Ethel Tungohan sheds light on how the goals and desires of migrant care worker activists extend beyond political considerations, such as policy changes and overturning power structures. Through practices of subversive friendships and unwavering support, care activism becomes an extension of the daily work that caregivers undertake, often instilling practices of resistance and critical hope among them. Moreover, the communities created by care activism provide a vital lifeline for migrant caregivers, enabling them to survive and even thrive in the face of arduous working and living conditions, as well as the emotional pain of family separation.

As Tungohan demonstrates, care activism also unites caregivers in their fight against the legal and economic devaluations of care and domestic work. It reaffirms their belief that they, and what they do, are essential and necessary, challenging societal perceptions that undermine the value and importance of care work.

In conclusion, care activism is a transformative force that empowers migrant caregivers and challenges the dominant narratives surrounding their lives and work. By highlighting their distinct ways of caring, fostering subversive friendships, and advocating for their rights, care activism contributes to the survival and well-being of migrant caregivers, while also advocating for a more just and equitable society that recognizes the value and importance of care work.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780252087400