Abstract
This paper discusses the use of written and oral narratives, composed as classroom assignments by adult Indonesian migrant workers, sojourning in Hong Kong. Individually written narratives embody group-common elements that can be acted upon, thus becoming catalysts for personal growth and for group social action planning. Personal growth includes refocusing personal identity away from the societally imposed and devalued ‘domestic helper’, toward identities that offer self-empowerment. Redefining personal identity within a group learning situation also builds group identity which can be directed toward confronting hegemonic forces. This is done on four fronts: firstly, by claiming the symbolic right of cultural space and by demanding respect within the larger Hong Kong community; secondly, by publicly agitating against government policies, such as human rights and minimum wage legislation, that migrant workers believe disadvantage them; thirdly, by increasing ability in English, Cantonese, and basic computer applications that specifically meet Indonesians’ work requirements and interests; and finally, by building the capacity to confront employers in claiming government guaranteed minimum wages and rest days. Through these actions, the opportunity for both personal and societal transformation is created.Data was collected through journal narratives and semi-structured qualitative interviews with migrants who were taking weekly English languages classes at a small private training center in Hong Kong.
Highlights
Since the 1950’s there has been an overwhelming amount of research conducted on cross-cultural adjustment
The socio-economic status of the sojourning student or executive, is, generally, considered in a positive light, by citizens of the host nation, where they are often believed to uplift moral, cultural and economic ‘tone’. This is especially so of executives, with immigration laws that do not out rightly preclude, for example, the possibility of eventual permanent residence, or marriage with host nationals. This is in contrast with legislation, in Hong Kong, for example, that prevents migrant workers from permanent residency and work in the informal sector, and in Singapore, for example, that prevents marriage to host nationals, and where pregnancy of migrant laborers subjects them to deportation (Lyons, 2006, pp. 8, 23)
This paper examines the situation of labor migrants from the ‘global south’ to a region of the ‘global north’, Indonesian migrant workers sojourning in Hong Kong, and the use of narrative methodology as a catalyst to refocus their locus of identity, away from the externally imposed and statically defined ‘domestic worker’ and toward psycho-social transformation
Summary
Since the 1950’s there has been an overwhelming amount of research conducted on cross-cultural adjustment. Cross-cultural adjustment models have most often been applied in situations of relative equality between the dislocated individual, and a large section of the population of the host nation. The socio-economic status of the sojourning student or executive, is, generally, considered in a positive light, by citizens of the host nation, where they are often believed to uplift moral, cultural and economic ‘tone’. This is especially so of executives, with immigration laws that do not out rightly preclude, for example, the possibility of eventual permanent residence, or marriage with host nationals. This is in contrast with legislation, in Hong Kong, for example, that prevents migrant workers from permanent residency and work in the informal sector, and in Singapore, for example, that prevents marriage to host nationals, and where pregnancy of migrant laborers subjects them to deportation (Lyons, 2006, pp. 8, 23)
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