The Lived Experiences of Live-in Domestic Workers

• Main Authors: Aquino, Audene Francois D., Baysa, Sir Geniurich L., Ganipis, Eugene Manuel C., Paasch, Vani Surabhi, Viloria, Antonia Victoria C.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: domestic worker; experience; challenges; aspirations; live-in
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2024/paper_frs/2; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/conf_shsrescon/article/2406/viewcontent/PP_FRS_Aquino_Baysa_Ganipis_Paasch_Viloria___ANTONIA_VICTORIA_VILORIA.docx.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The plight and resilience of domestic workers remain largely unseen within society, hidden behind the closed doors of their employers' homes. This study delves into the lived experiences of live-in domestic workers in Baguio City, Philippines, shedding light on their challenges, coping mechanisms, aspirations, and strategies for achieving their goals. Four research questions were crafted to provide a context to the lived experiences of these domestic workers namely: “What are the most common challenges of domestic workers?”, “How do they cope with these challenges?”, “What are the most common aspirations of domestic workers moving forward?”, and “How do they plan to accomplish these aspirations?”. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, data was collected through interviews to capture the nuanced perspectives of fourteen (14) domestic workers. Findings reveal that the domestic workers' most common challenges are emotional strain and demanding workloads, such as stress, homesickness, balancing chores, and overworking. Despite these difficulties, they exhibited resilience by utilizing various coping strategies, with adaptive coping, such as seeking support and engaging in hobbies, being the most prevalent. Their aspirations primarily revolve around family and home, including goals of educating children, owning a home, and supporting loved ones. Domestic workers rely on self-reliance and strategic planning to achieve these aspirations, demonstrating a preference for internal resources over external support.