Mediated and non-mediated communication practices of Filipino au pairs in Denmark

Abstract

My Master’s thesis in Communication for Development, on which this article is based, focused on six young, educated Filipino migrants who decided to be au pairs Denmark. In the study, I discussed the historical practices of a Filipino migrant to illustrate the migration patterns of Filipinos, including the trend of coming to Europe to be au pairs. The theories were based on transnationalism, migration, diaspora, cultural citizenship and media. Through these theories, I explored how the participants were excluded and included in the Danish society, as well as the role of networks in their lives. A constructionist approach to the analysis and participatory method were used in the study. The narrative responses of the participants indicated that some of them came to Denmark to gain cultural knowledge and skills, while others wanted to work in a Danish household. Nevertheless, from the standpoint of communication for development, behavior change is necessary to take the next step out of their despair. The au pairs themselves must acknowledge that they have carried with them something valuable to Denmark, their education; hence many au pairs must stop thinking that they are domestic workers.