ABSTRACT

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book reflects how sending societies are affected by the out-migration of sizeable numbers of married and single women who care for their families transnationally from a distance. It shows how reproductive labor changes in the receiving society when it is done by women who are subject to multifaceted othering or racializing processes. The book builds on the social-historical foundations established by Christiane Harzig and examines contemporary theorizing about domestic work and migration. It addresses the impact of the increasingly important migration of married women domestic workers and focuses on authors who address the emotional labor and personal intimacy associated with domestic work that challenges the power of the state to protect migrant workers from exploitation. The book examines the experiences of the women who move around the globe to engage in care work in different locations.