Domestic Drama: Exploring domestic workers' lives in Amman-Jordan

This research paper adds an important dimension to the literature on female migrant domestic workers (FMDWs): while applying rigorous conceptual framework to underpin its analysis of the complex relationship between FMDWs and their employers, it uses data collected from interviews and observations to bring out the voice and experience of FMDWs without the stereotypical portrayals of employer and worker that pervade the literature. The study focuses on relations between FMDWs and employers in Amman, Jordan, to answer the question: How can FMDWs ensure their rights and benefits through their complex intra- and extra-household relationships? It uses an eclectic but cohesive conceptual framework consisting of gender, intersectionality, agency and social capital to analyze the data from in-depth interviews with workers and employers. The analysis shows that while FMDWs are relatively aware of the formal protection measures relating to them, they often achieve their goals independently and/or collectively by diverse means. These include, for example, active instigation of and participation in informal networking with their fellow FMDWs inside and outside the household. In many instances, they employ innovative strategies to negotiate with their employers. The paper further argues that the perceptions underlying formal protection measures have fallen short of capturing the intricate and often contradictory relations between employers and workers. It argues that FMDWs are not a homogeneous group and that their relations with their employers are not inherently antagonistic.