Caregivers Need Care, Too: Conceptualising Spiritual Care for Migrant Caregivers-Transnational Mothers

Growing research revolving around the plight of (Philippine) migrant domestic workers is noteworthy. However, the focus is largely on their role, capacity and identity as caregivers, meaning as labour migrants and transnational mothers engaged in both paid and unpaid care work. Building on the “care...

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Main Author: Ma. Adeinev M. Reyes-Espiritu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/2/173
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author Ma. Adeinev M. Reyes-Espiritu
author_facet Ma. Adeinev M. Reyes-Espiritu
author_sort Ma. Adeinev M. Reyes-Espiritu
collection DOAJ
description Growing research revolving around the plight of (Philippine) migrant domestic workers is noteworthy. However, the focus is largely on their role, capacity and identity as caregivers, meaning as labour migrants and transnational mothers engaged in both paid and unpaid care work. Building on the “care circulation” framework of Baldassar and Merla that conceptualises care as given and received in varying degrees by all family members across time and distance, this paper takes up the task of recognising migrant domestic workers as care receivers. In a particular way, this paper conceptualises care for migrant caregivers-transnational mothers that is based on a qualitative empirical study on the lived realities of Philippine migrant workers, who are also transnational mothers. An analysis of the participants’ narratives using the constructivist grounded theory approach reveals that their experience of God’s presence is central to how they navigate transnational mothering as labour migrants. This paper then proposes that their faith stories, significant as they are, be taken as a resource in providing them with spiritual care that takes their concerns into account.
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spelling doaj.art-89e2faa40c704b5dac7a1b8966cfa6072023-11-23T21:52:16ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-02-0113217310.3390/rel13020173Caregivers Need Care, Too: Conceptualising Spiritual Care for Migrant Caregivers-Transnational MothersMa. Adeinev M. Reyes-Espiritu0Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumGrowing research revolving around the plight of (Philippine) migrant domestic workers is noteworthy. However, the focus is largely on their role, capacity and identity as caregivers, meaning as labour migrants and transnational mothers engaged in both paid and unpaid care work. Building on the “care circulation” framework of Baldassar and Merla that conceptualises care as given and received in varying degrees by all family members across time and distance, this paper takes up the task of recognising migrant domestic workers as care receivers. In a particular way, this paper conceptualises care for migrant caregivers-transnational mothers that is based on a qualitative empirical study on the lived realities of Philippine migrant workers, who are also transnational mothers. An analysis of the participants’ narratives using the constructivist grounded theory approach reveals that their experience of God’s presence is central to how they navigate transnational mothering as labour migrants. This paper then proposes that their faith stories, significant as they are, be taken as a resource in providing them with spiritual care that takes their concerns into account.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/2/173transnational mothersspiritual carespiritual supportfaith livesmigrant caregiversmigrant advocates
spellingShingle Ma. Adeinev M. Reyes-Espiritu
Caregivers Need Care, Too: Conceptualising Spiritual Care for Migrant Caregivers-Transnational Mothers
Religions
transnational mothers
spiritual care
spiritual support
faith lives
migrant caregivers
migrant advocates
title Caregivers Need Care, Too: Conceptualising Spiritual Care for Migrant Caregivers-Transnational Mothers
title_full Caregivers Need Care, Too: Conceptualising Spiritual Care for Migrant Caregivers-Transnational Mothers
title_fullStr Caregivers Need Care, Too: Conceptualising Spiritual Care for Migrant Caregivers-Transnational Mothers
title_full_unstemmed Caregivers Need Care, Too: Conceptualising Spiritual Care for Migrant Caregivers-Transnational Mothers
title_short Caregivers Need Care, Too: Conceptualising Spiritual Care for Migrant Caregivers-Transnational Mothers
title_sort caregivers need care too conceptualising spiritual care for migrant caregivers transnational mothers
topic transnational mothers
spiritual care
spiritual support
faith lives
migrant caregivers
migrant advocates
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/2/173
work_keys_str_mv AT maadeinevmreyesespiritu caregiversneedcaretooconceptualisingspiritualcareformigrantcaregiverstransnationalmothers