The Health Consequences of Neocolonialism for Latin American Immigrant Women Working as Caregivers in Spain: A Multisite Qualitative Analysis

Erica Briones-Vozmediano, Natalia Rivas-Quarneti, Montserrat Gea-Sánchez, Andreu Bover-Bover, Maria Antonia Carbonero and Denise Gastaldo
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Erica Briones-Vozmediano: GESEC Group, Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
Natalia Rivas-Quarneti: Global Migration and Health Initiative, Toronto, ON M5T 1P8, Canada
Montserrat Gea-Sánchez: GESEC Group, Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
Andreu Bover-Bover: Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Maria Antonia Carbonero: Department of Philosophy and Social Work, University of Illes Balears, 07122 Mallorca, Spain
Denise Gastaldo: Global Migration and Health Initiative, Toronto, ON M5T 1P8, Canada

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-21

Abstract: In Spain, most jobs available for Latin American immigrant women are in intimate labour (caregiving and domestic work). This work is usually performed under informal employment conditions. The objective of this study was to explain how the colonial logic mediates the experiences of Latin American women working in intimate labour in Spain, and the effects of such occupation on their health and wellbeing, using a decolonial theoretical framework. A multi-site secondary data analysis of qualitative data from four previous studies was performed utilizing 101 interviews with Latin American immigrant women working as caregivers in Spain. Three interwoven categories show how the dominant colonial logic in Spain creates low social status and precarious jobs, and naturalizes intimate labour as their métier while producing detrimental physical and psychosocial health consequences for these immigrant caregivers. The caregivers displayed several strategies to resist and navigate intimate labour and manage its negative impact on health. Respect and integration into the family for whom they work had a buffering effect, mediating the effects of working conditions on health and wellbeing. Based on our analysis, we suggest that employment, social, and health protection laws and strategies are needed to promote a positive working environment, and to reduce the impact of caregiving work for Latin American caregivers.

Keywords: migration; working women; workplace; social discrimination; racism; sexism; qualitative research; economic recession; Spain; caregiving (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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