Psychosocial and Economic Experiences of Gulf States Returnee Ethiopian Women Domestic Workers
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Date
2011-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In the contemporary Ethiopia, a considerable number of women are working as domestic
workers in the Gulf States. Generally, the working enviranment in the country of destination
is not favourable. However, the domestic workers are forced to work under harsh condition
to principally to fulfill the economic demands of their parents as well as themselves. They fail
to accomplish their objective due to different forms of abuse that they face in the country of
destination. In due courses, as a result of traumatic experiences, quite a number of
Ethiopian domestic workers experience psychosocial prablems.
The main purpases of this study are to explore the psychosocial and economic experiences of
Gulf States returnee Ethiopian women domestic workers. It also attempts to investigate the
push and pull factors as well as the discrepancies between the expectation of the domestic
workers and the reolity that they face in the country of destination.
Methodologically, this study is qualitative method, among the five qualitative method
approaches, narrative approach is employed. A primary and secondary data are used to
operationalise the study. Primary data has been COllected through in-depth interview with
the informants and key informants of the study. As a secondary dota archival records are
used.
The findings of this research show that: 1) Traumatic and life threatening experiences of
Ethiopian women domestic workers in the country of destination are the root couses for the
psychosocial problems of the Ethiopian domestic workers. 2) Mostly, employers denied
salaries of the domestic workers; as a result the domestic workers have not benefitted out of
their employment. 3) Economic demands are the basic pushing factors whereas; modernized
way of life is the major pulling factor. 4) The expectations of the domestic workers before
their departure from the country of origin and the realities that they face in the country of
destination are quite different. Besides, language and culturol barriers inflicted their
interaction with their employers. As a result, most of the domestic workers experience
culture shock, maladjustment, frustratian, and finally they become depressed.
This study recommends, educotion is the key factor that could enable women to participate
in the farmol sector. Therefore, pledging education is the basic measure that should be taken
to ensure women's participation in the public sphere. Besides, provision of prior orientation
and societal awareness concerning the cultural, social and econamic condition of the country
of destinatian is very essential. Moreaver, foreign employment policy is vital to monitor the
activities of illegal traffickers as well as to guarantee citizen's right in the country of
destination. Accordingly, providing small scale industry training and skill development
training for unemployed women might scale down the number of migront domestic workers.
On the other hond longuage ond skill training for migrant domestic workers will enable them
to interoct with their employers smoothly.
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Keywords
Ethiopian Women Domestic Workers