On Mops and Maids
Migrant Albanian Domestic and Care Workers and the division of reproductive labour in Greece
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46661/ccselap-11003Keywords:
reproductive labour, women, Albanian migration, domestic work, care work, GreeceAbstract
Reproductive labour has historically been and continues to be associated with female migrant labour. This study aims to unravel the multiple effects of domestic work and care on the living conditions and integration of Albanian domestic workers and carers in Greece. The study applies the research literature review tool, which involves an objective approach and evaluation of the body of qualitative/empirical research literature, in order to answer focused questions about the effects of domestic work on migrant women from Albania in Greece, using appropriate keywords in two databases. According to the findings, the low wages and precarious working conditions that characterize domestic work and care, allow for physical and moral exploitation, while at a social level there is marginalization and difficulty in accessing social security, healthcare, community organization and representation.
Downloads
References
Anderson, B. (1999). Overseas domestic workers in the European Union. In J. Henshall-Momsen (ed.), Gender, migration and domestic service (pp. 113-129). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203452509_chapter_7
Anderson, B. (2001). Reproductive labour and migration. University of Oxford. Transnational Communities Programme
Anderson, B. (2007). A Very Private Business Exploring the Demand for Migrant Domestic Workers. European Journal of Women’s Studies, 14(3), 247-264. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506807079013
Anthias, F., Cederberg, M., Barber, T., & Ayres, R. (2013). Welfare regimes, markets and policies. In Anthias, F., Kontos, M. & Morokvasic-Müller, M. (eds.). Paradoxes of integration (pp37-58). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4842-2_3
Athanasopoulou, A. (2008a). Albanian Salaried Domestic Workers in Athens. In Kavounidi, T., Karidis, V., Nikolakopoulou-Stefanou, H. & Stylianoudi, M-G L. (eds.) Migration in Greece (pp. 272-284) B, Athens IMEPO Publications (in Greek).
Athanasopoulou, A. (2008b). “Everything is on me”. In Vaiou, N. & Stratigaki, M. (eds.) The gender of migration (pp. 67-96). Metehmio (in Greek).
Bacharopoulou, A., Kefala, R., Lykogianni, R., Monemvasitou, A., Papaioannou, A. & Vaiou, D (2007). Tracing urban change through the everyday lives of migrant women domestic workers and their employers. Working paper. https://bit.ly/3Y8A5Ys (in Greek).
Bagavos, C. & Papadopoulou, D. (2002). Migration Trends and European Migration Policy. 15. INE/GSEE-AEDY (in Greek).
Balli, B. (2009). Albanian Migrants. Michigan State University.
Browne, I. & Mirsa, J. (2003). The Intersection of Gender and Race in the Labor Market. Annual Review of Sociology, 29, 487-513. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.29.010202.100016
Charalampopoulou, D. (2004). Gender And Migration In Greece”, Finisterra XXXIX, 77, 77-104.
Da Roit, B & Weicht, B. (2013). Migrant care work and care, migration and employment regimes, Journal of European Social Policy, 23(5), 469-486. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958928713499175
Damianovic, V. (2011) Biographical Rupture of Immigrant Women from Albania Employed in Domestic Work in Greece. Master Thesis. Department of Sociology, University of the Aegean. https://bit.ly/3Juo4sn
Duci, V. & Noti, E. (2016). Albanian Women Migration in Greeces. Journal of Science and Higher Education Research, 1(1), 65-73.
Farris, S.R. (2015). Migrants’ regular Army of labour, The Sociological Review, 63(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-954X.12185
Fouskas, T. (2012). Migrant "communities" and labour representation. Papazisis (in Greek).
Fouskas, T. (2013). Representing the unrepresented? Social Cohesion and Development, 8(2), 127–150.
Fouskas, T. (2021). Lives (un)maid in Greece: Migrant Filipina Live-In Domestic Workers. Labour, Health, Community (Preface by Bridget Anderson and Giovanna Campani). Nova Science Publishers.
Fouskas, T., Gikopoulou, P., Ioannidi, E. and Koulierakis, G. (2019b). Health inequalities and female migrant domestic workers: Accessing healthcare as a human right and barriers due to precarious employment in Greece. Collectivus: Special Issue Migrations and gender from a transnational perspective, 6(2), 71-90. https://doi.org/10.15648/Coll.1.2019.7
Fouskas, T., Gikopoulou, P., Ioannidi, E. and Koulierakis, G. (2019a). Gender, transnational female migration and domestic work in Greece: An intersectional review of sociological research on access of female migrants to labor, healthcare and community associations. Collectivus: Special Issue Migrations and gender from a transnational perspective, 6(1), 101‐131. https://doi.org/10.15648/Coll.1.2019.7
Fouskas, T., Koulierakis, G., Lyberopoulou, L., and De Maio, A. (2022). From invisibility to gender empowerment and migrant integration? Repercussions of live-in domestic work and caregiving on female migrants in Greece. Cuestiones Pedagógicas. Revista De Ciencias De La Educación, 1(31), 77–100. https://doi.org/10.12795/CP.2022.i31.v1.05
Galanis, A.P. (2017). Methodology of Research in Health Sciences. Athens:Kritiki (in Greek).
Grant, MJ. & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews, Health Information and Libraries Journal, 26(2), 91-108. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x
Hantzaroula, P. (2008). Perceptions of work in Albanian immigrants' testimonies and the structure of domestic work in Greece, in Lutz, H. (ed.). Migration and Domestic Work (pp. 61-74). Routledge.
Hatziprokopiou, P. (2003). Albanian immigrants in Thessaloniki, Greece, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 29(6), 1033-1057. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183032000171357
International Labour Organization. (2011). C189-Domestic Workers Convention. https://bit.ly/2AQOzVe
International Labour Organization (2021) Making decent work a reality for domestic workers, 2011 (No. 189). https://bit.ly/3wKua0c
Journal of Medical Library Association JMLA (2016). Google Scholar and Scopus. 104(3), 252–254. https://doi.org/10.3163/1536-5050.104.3.021
Kambouri, H. (2007). Gender, migration and domestic work. The Greek Review of Social Research, 124, 35–53. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.113
Kambouri, H. (2008). “Feminine Jobs/Masculine:Becomings Gender and Identity in the Discourse of Albanian Domestic Workers in Greece”. European Journal of Women’s Studies, 15(1), 7-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506807084853
Kambouri, N. and Lafazani, O. (2008). The house in Bulgaria, the shoe collection in Greece. In Vaiou, N. & M. Stratigaki (eds.) The Gender of Migration (pp. 39-66). Metehmio (in Greek).
Kassimati, K. & L. Mousourou (2007) Gender and Migration. Volume I. Gutenberg (in Greek).
Kassimati, K. (2003) Migration policies and integration strategies. Gutenberg (in Greek).
Kassimati, K. (2007). Employers of migrant women domestic workers from Albania and Ukraine, The Greek Review of Social Research, 124, 95–119. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.116
Kassimati, K. (2009). The origin of migrant women and their social integration in Greece, Social Cohesion and Development, 4(1), 7-25. https://bit.ly/3XoPcw7 (in Greek).
Kofman, E., Phizacklea, A., Raghuram, P. & Sales, R. (2000) Gender and International Migration in Europe. Routledge.
Kotzamanis, V. (2008). Foreigners in Greece:a first analysis of its geographical dispersion and their contribution to the population changes of the last decade (1991-2001). In Kavounidi, J., Kontis, A., Liannos, Th. & Fakiolas, R. (eds.). Migration in Greece. IMEPO (in Greek).
Labadie-Jackson, G. (2008). Reflections on Domestic Work and the Feminization of Migration, Campbell Law Review, 31(1), 67-90. https://bit.ly/3kZFHWM
Lambrianidis, L. & Lymberaki, A. (2001). Albanian Immigrants in Thessaloniki. Paratiritis (in Greek).
Lazarescu, D., & Kouzas, Y. (2017). The Careers of Migrant Domestic Workers in Greece. Journal of Modern Greek Studies, 35(1), 67-88. https://doi.org/10.1353/mgs.2017.0003
Lazaridis, G. (2000). Filipino and Albanian women migrant workers in Greece. In Anthias, F. & Lazaridis, G. (eds.). Gender and migration in Southern Europe (pp. 49-79). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003085447-3
Lazaridis, G., & Romaniszyn, K. (1998). Albanian and Polish undocumented workers in Greece. Journal of European Social Policy, 8(1), 5-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/095892879800800101
Liapi, M. (2008). Strategies for the social integration of migrant women. In Vaiou, N. & Stratigaki, M. (eds.). The Gender of Migration (pp. 163-194). Metehmio (in Greek).
Lykogianni, R. (2008). The everyday lives of immigrant women and the (re)constitution of the neighbourhoods of Athens. In Vaiou, N. and Stratigaki, M. (eds.). The Gender of Migration (pp. 97-124) Metehmio (in Greek).
Lymberaki A. & Maroukis, T. (2005). Albanian immigrants in Athens, Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 5(1), 21-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/1468385042000328358
Maratou-Alipranti, L., Vonda, E., Iordanidou, A., Kapetanopoulos, A., Profiri, I., & Tsivikis, N. (2007). Women's Migration in Greece. KETHI (in Greek).
Marchetti, S. (2022). Migration and Domestic Work. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11466-3
Maroukis T., (2010). Economic Migration in Greece. Papazisis (in Greek).
Maroukis, T. (2009). Informal domestic labour and migration, Social Cohesion and Development, 4(1), 95-108 (in Greek).
Maroukis, T. (2018). Migrant care workers’ trajectories in a familistic welfare regime, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.
Ministry of Migration and Asylum (2022). Briefing Notes: December 2022 - Legal Migration B. https://bit.ly/3RO0V63 (in Greek).
Moher, D., Shamseer, L., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., Shekelle, P., Stewart, LA. & PRISMA-P Group (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement, Systematic Reviews 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-4-1
Mousourou, L.M. (2007). The role of women in the integration of immigrants, The Greek Review of Social Research, 124, 159–177. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.119
Olsson, F. (2014). Between dreams of papers and a house: Everyday life of Albanian undocumented migrant women in Greece. [Master Thesis. Department of Social Work, Lund: Lund University].
Papataxiarchis, E., Athanasopoulou, A. & Topali, P. (2008). Worlds of Domestic Work. Publications: Alexandria (in Greek).
Psimmenos, I. & Lazaridis, G. (2000). Migrant Flows from Albania to Greece. In R. King, G. Lazaridis & Ch. Tsardanidis (eds.) Eldorado or Fortress? (pp. 170-185). McMillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780333982525_8
Psimmenos, I. & Skamnakis, Chr. (2008). Migrant women's domestic work and social protection. Papazisis (in Greek).
Psimmenos, I. (2007). Work culture and migrant women's welfare marginalization, The Greek Review of Social Research, 124, 9-33. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.112
Psimmenos, I. (2011). The welfare orientations of immigrant domestic workers in Greece, The Greek Review of Social Research, 136, 225-248. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.51
Sakellis, I. & Spyropoulou, N. (2007). Employing immigrant women from Albania and Ukraine in domestic services in Greece, The Greek Review of Social Research, 124, 71-93. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.115
Skamnakis, C. & Malekaki, E. (2017). Domestic Work and Welfare Values of Migrant Women in Modern Greece, Journal of Modern Greek Studies, 35 (1), 111-128. https://doi.org/10.1353/mgs.2017.0005
Stratigaki, M., & Vaiou, D. (2007). Migrant mothers’ everyday practices in nurseries and kindergartens as a strategy for social integration. The Greek Review of Social Research, 124, 139-157. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.118
Styliou, L. (2004). Greek employers and Albanian domestic cleaners. Volos:University of Thessaly. https://bit.ly/3Rn8Abh
Syrigou-Rigou, E. (2000). Discussing with Linda. Athens: Network of Support for Refugees and Migrants (in Greek).
Tastsoglou, E., & Hadjicostandi, J. (2003). Never outside the labour market, but always outsiders, The Greek Review of Social Research, 110, 189-220. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.9172
Thanopoulou, M. (2007). Intergenerational and gender relations in Albanian migrant families, The Greek Review of Social Research, 124, 55-70. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.114
Triandafyllidou, A. (2013). Irregular Migrant Domestic Workers in Europe Who Cares? London: Routledge.
Uman, LS. (2011). Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(1), 57-59.
Vaiou D. (2002). In the Interstices of the City, Espace, populations, sociétés, (3), 373-385. https://doi.org/10.3406/espos.2002.2046
Van Boeschoten, R. (2015). Transnational Mobility and the Renegotiation of Gender Identities, in:Albanian and Bulgarian Migrants in Greece. In Vermeulen, H., Baldwin-Edwards, M., Boeschoten, R. (eds.). Migration in the Southern Balkans (pp. 161–182). IMISCOE, Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13719-3_9
Vasilikou, K. (2007) Women's Migration and Human Rights. Academy of Athens/GDSTH (in Greek).
Vasilikou, K. (2009) Immigrant women-domestic workers and "transnational" family, Social Cohesion and Development, 4 (1), 109-125 (in Greek).
Vouyioukas, A. & Liapi, M. (2013). Coping with Deskilling. In Anthias, F., Kontos, M., & Morokvasic-Müller, M. (Eds.). (2012). Paradoxes of integration (pp. 79-96). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4842-2_5
Vullnetari, J. (2009). Women and Migration in Albania. International Migration, 50(5), 169-188. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2435.2009.00569.x
Williams, F. (2011). Towards a transnational analysis of the political economy of care. In Mahon, R. & Robinson, F. (eds.) The Global Political Economy of Care. UBC. https://doi.org/10.59962/9780774821070-003
Xypolytas, N. & Lazarescu, D. (2013). Sociological researches of domestic work in Greece in Psimmenos, I. (ed.). Labour and Social Inequalities. Athens Alexandria, 155-190 (in Greek).
Xypolytas, N., Vassilikou, K., & Fouskas, T. (2017). Migrant Domestic Workers: Family, Community, and Crisis, Journal of Modern Greek Studies, 35(1), 89-110. https://doi.org/10.1353/mgs.2017.0004
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Sintorela Chamiti, Theodoros Fouskas, Antonios Kontis, Anastasios Sepetis

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This licence allows third parties to share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform and create from the material for any purpose, including commercial purposes), provided that authorship and first publication in this journal (The Journal, DOI of the work) is acknowledged, a link to the licence is provided, and it is stated whether changes have been made to the work.