1. 1 “Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy” Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild, in Rothenberg, Ed., Beyond Borders: Thinking Critically About Global Issues, 2006.

2. 2 GL has transformed work/family life for women in both rich & poor countries Women from poor countries are moving to rich ones, to work as nannies, maids & sex workers Women from poor countries are moving to rich ones, to work as nannies, maids & sex workers Many women in rich countries are succeeding in “male world” careers only by turning over care of children, elderly parents, and homes to women from the Third World Many women in rich countries are succeeding in “male world” careers only by turning over care of children, elderly parents, and homes to women from the Third World These women typically lack help from male partnersThese women typically lack help from male partners

3. 3 The female underside of globalization Millions of women from poor countries in the south migrate to do the “women’s work” of the north – work that affluent women are no longer able or willing to do Millions of women from poor countries in the south migrate to do the “women’s work” of the north – work that affluent women are no longer able or willing to do Migrant women often leave their own children back home, in the care of grandmothers, sisters, sisters-in-law Migrant women often leave their own children back home, in the care of grandmothers, sisters, sisters-in-law

4. 4 Pattern of female migration reflects a “worldwide gender revolution” In both rich & poor countries, fewer families can rely solely on a male breadwinner In both rich & poor countries, fewer families can rely solely on a male breadwinner In the U.S., the earning power of most men has declined since 1970, and many women have gone to work to make up the difference In the U.S., the earning power of most men has declined since 1970, and many women have gone to work to make up the difference So who will take care of the children, the sick, the elderly?So who will take care of the children, the sick, the elderly?

5. 5 Female labor migration from Third World has received little attention Many, though not all, of new female migrant workers are women of color Many, though not all, of new female migrant workers are women of color Work tends to be private & “indoors,” even illegal & hidden (e.g., sex work) Work tends to be private & “indoors,” even illegal & hidden (e.g., sex work) Affluent career women want to be seen as “doing it all,” and therefore discount & disguise paid “help” Affluent career women want to be seen as “doing it all,” and therefore discount & disguise paid “help”

6. 6 First World lifestyles are made possible by a global transfer of “women’s work” from poor to rich countries In earlier phase of imperialism, northern states extracted natural resources agricultural products from colonized lands In earlier phase of imperialism, northern states extracted natural resources agricultural products from colonized lands Today, wealthy countries also seek to extract something harder to measure and quantify, which can look very much like love Today, wealthy countries also seek to extract something harder to measure and quantify, which can look very much like love

7. 7 Precedents for the globalization of traditional female services In ancient Middle East, women of vanquished populations were routinely enslaved, to serve as household workers and concubines for victors In ancient Middle East, women of vanquished populations were routinely enslaved, to serve as household workers and concubines for victors Among the Africans brought to N America as slaves in the 16 th – 19 th centuries, 1/3 were women & children, and many became concubines and domestic servants Among the Africans brought to N America as slaves in the 16 th – 19 th centuries, 1/3 were women & children, and many became concubines and domestic servants 19 th century Irishwomen and rural Englishwomen migrated to English towns & cities to work as domestics in homes of growing upper-middle class 19 th century Irishwomen and rural Englishwomen migrated to English towns & cities to work as domestics in homes of growing upper-middle class

8. 8 The feminization of migration 1950 – 1970, men predominated in labor migration to northern Europe from Turkey, Greece, and North Africa 1950 – 1970, men predominated in labor migration to northern Europe from Turkey, Greece, and North Africa Since then, women have been replacing menSince then, women have been replacing men In 1946, women were fewer than 3% of the Algerians and Moroccans living in France; by 1990, they were more than 40%In 1946, women were fewer than 3% of the Algerians and Moroccans living in France; by 1990, they were more than 40% Now, half of world’s 120 million legal & illegal migrants are believed to be women Now, half of world’s 120 million legal & illegal migrants are believed to be women Women migrants from many sending countries actually outnumber men, sometimes by a wide margin (See pp. 533-534) Women migrants from many sending countries actually outnumber men, sometimes by a wide margin (See pp. 533-534)

9. 9 US household workforce has changed w/ life chances of different ethnic groups In late 19th century, Irish and German immigrants served the northern upper & middle classes, then left for factories as soon as they could In late 19th century, Irish and German immigrants served the northern upper & middle classes, then left for factories as soon as they could Black women replaced them, accounting for 60% of all domestics in the late 1940s, and dominated the field until other occupations opened up Black women replaced them, accounting for 60% of all domestics in the late 1940s, and dominated the field until other occupations opened up West coast maids were disproportionately Japanese American until that group found better options West coast maids were disproportionately Japanese American until that group found better options Today, ethnicity of workforce varies by region: Chicanas in the Southwest, Caribbeans in New York, native Hawaiians in Hawaii, whites, mostly rural, in Maine Today, ethnicity of workforce varies by region: Chicanas in the Southwest, Caribbeans in New York, native Hawaiians in Hawaii, whites, mostly rural, in Maine (Ehreneich, “Maid to Order: The Politics of Other Women’s Work” (Ehreneich, “Maid to Order: The Politics of Other Women’s Work” Harper's, 4/1/2000)

10. 10 Govt’s of some sending countries actively encourage women to migrate Migrant women are more likely than male counterparts to send hard- earned wages back home to families Migrant women are more likely than male counterparts to send hard- earned wages back home to families Generally, they send anywhere from half to nearly all of what they earnGenerally, they send anywhere from half to nearly all of what they earn These remittances have significant impact on lives of families and kin, as well as on cash-strapped Third World gov’ts These remittances have significant impact on lives of families and kin, as well as on cash-strapped Third World gov’ts

11. 11 “Care deficit” pulls migrants from Third World and postcommunist countries; poverty pushes them Throughout western Europe, Taiwan, Japan, and esp. in US, women’s employment has increased dramatically since the 1970s Throughout western Europe, Taiwan, Japan, and esp. in US, women’s employment has increased dramatically since the 1970s As rich countries have grown richer, poor countries have become poorer – in absolute & relative terms As rich countries have grown richer, poor countries have become poorer – in absolute & relative terms Global inequalities in wages are particularly strikingGlobal inequalities in wages are particularly striking To qualify for loans, IMF/WB structural adjustment programs demand poor countries devalue their currencies and cut public spending To qualify for loans, IMF/WB structural adjustment programs demand poor countries devalue their currencies and cut public spending Increasing incentives for migration to more fortunate parts of the worldIncreasing incentives for migration to more fortunate parts of the world

12. 12 GL of women’s work is NOT a simple synergy of needs among women Fails to account for failure of First World gov’ts to meet needs created by women’s entry into workforce Fails to account for failure of First World gov’ts to meet needs created by women’s entry into workforce Any view of globalization of domestic work as simply an arrangement among women omits the role of men Any view of globalization of domestic work as simply an arrangement among women omits the role of men

13. 13 Push factors not so simple either Absolute poverty not a push factor Absolute poverty not a push factor Female migrants not the most impoverishedFemale migrants not the most impoverished They are typically more affluent and better educated than male migrantsThey are typically more affluent and better educated than male migrants Such women are likely to be enterprising and adventurous enough to resist the social pressures to stay home and accept their lot in lifeSuch women are likely to be enterprising and adventurous enough to resist the social pressures to stay home and accept their lot in life Noneconomic factors also influential Noneconomic factors also influential To escape expectation to care for elderly family members, to give paychecks to husband or father, to defer to an abusive husbandTo escape expectation to care for elderly family members, to give paychecks to husband or father, to defer to an abusive husband A practical response to divorce or need to raise children as single motherA practical response to divorce or need to raise children as single mother Other factors may make men of poor countries less desirable as husbands (e.g., unemployment and related social problems such as alcoholism and gambling) Other factors may make men of poor countries less desirable as husbands (e.g., unemployment and related social problems such as alcoholism and gambling)

14. 14 GL of child care & housework brings independent women of world together –but not as sisters & allies with common goals Instead they come together across a great divide of privilege and opportunity Instead they come together across a great divide of privilege and opportunity

15. 15 Global relationship of women mirrors traditional relationship b/w sexes The First World takes on a role like that of the old-fashioned male in the family The First World takes on a role like that of the old-fashioned male in the family Poor countries take on a role like that of the traditional woman within the family Poor countries take on a role like that of the traditional woman within the family A division of labor feminists critiqued when it was “local” has now, metaphorically speaking, gone globalA division of labor feminists critiqued when it was “local” has now, metaphorically speaking, gone global