Harry, Paul and the Filipino Maid: Racial and Sexual Abuse in Local Contexts

Abstract

Estacio argues for critical health psychology to take action to address three issues raised (unintentionally) in the 'Harry and Paul' sketch broadcast on British television. It is suggested that, although attempting humour, the sketch offensively reflected and reproduced patterns of social injustice that are far from funny. We argue here that micro-level analysis of the interactional elements of the sketch provides an understanding of how in everyday contexts Filipino workers are constructed in socially unjust terms and of how abuse can be justified. Such an understanding can allow critical health psychology to make a distinctive contribution to these topics.