FINDING HOME: GEOGRAPHICAL LINKS BETWEEN PAID AND UNPAID WORK FOR TRANSNATIONAL CARE WORKERS IN TORONTO’S SUBURBS SILVIA D’ADDARIO A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GEOGRAPHY YORK UNIVERSITY, TORONTO, ONTARIO SEPTEMBER, 2012 © SILVIA D’ADDARIO, 2012 Library and Archives Bibliotheque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du 1+1 Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-92812-7 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-92812-7 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distrbute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. 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Canada Abstract Contemporary migration has become increasingly transnational as migrants maintain linkages with their place of origin and, in many cases, with multiple places. Transnational practices and identities highlight the complex ways that contemporary immigrants negotiate home. This dissertation explores the ways in which transnational Filipina care workers construct home and a sense of belonging, here and elsewhere. In order to examine these experiences of belonging, I investigate the linkages between paid and unpaid work in various workplaces and places of residence. This research weaves together experiences of paid and unpaid work and the locations that (re)create their feminized, racialized and classed circumstances.. To capture the intricacies of home for transnational Filipina care workers, I analyze the 2006 Canadian Census and Statistics Canada’s Ethnic Diversity Survey. I elaborate on these data with in-depth interviews and focus groups with three groups of Filipinas: recent health care workers, recent live-in caregivers and well-established residents. The analysis takes place in the inner suburbs of Scarborough, ON and the outer suburbs of Markham, ON; two locations that are key immigrant reception zones. My methodology investigates how various qualitative and quantitative methods can be employed to better understand how the complex relations between paid and unpaid work in various places of residence and workplaces influence the construction of home for transnational care workers. Acknowledgements I would like to begin by acknowledging the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship for funding this project. In addition, the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association, York University Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (Local 3903), the Canadian Association of Geographers, the Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement, and the York University Department of Geography also funded the research, writing, and dissemination of this dissertation. I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor Professor Valerie Preston. Her dedication and unyielding mentoring has greatly influenced this research and my perspective of academia. Her passion for teaching, public policy and feminist research has inspired my own academic goals. I am truly indebted to Valerie for providing me with a solid foundation to pursue my professional aspirations. A special thank you to my committee members, Professor Leah Vosko and Professor Steven Flusty, who both taught courses that not only inspired me, but also shaped much of this research. I am thankful for their guidance throughout the years and for the valuable role that they both played in my academic life. My doctoral research truly benefitted from treasured friendships along the way. Dr. Ann Marie Mumaghan has been an exceptional friend. Like the scurrying flight of the dragonfly on water, our endless conversations always revealed the need to look beyond the surface with careful regard for our dreams - thank you. My friends in the department, Susan Dupej, James McLean, Julie Young and Johanna Reynolds also provided intellectual and emotional support. I am grateful to Graham Webber and Erin Bentley for showing me that it is possible to undertake academic work with spiritual integrity. I am also thankful to Lisa Belby, Nina Stortz, Annelise Malandrino and Cecilia Yip for providing ample support along the way. I would like to thank Beth, Lark and Mel for shaping this research with their own experiences as care workers and invaluable connections in the Filipino community. Thank you to the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians for providing me with feedback on the research and for introducing me to the wonderful women that participated in this research. I am tremendously grateful to the live-in caregivers, the healthcare workers and residents of Markham who took the time to share their stories with me. Professors Philip Kelly, Robert Murdie, Daniel Hiebert, Ranu Basu and Glen Norcliffe have played a critical role in my academic life, providing mentoring and iii intellectual support over the past decade. A special thanks to Yvonne Yim - a ray of sunshine who always goes above and beyond the expected. This dissertation would not be possible without the support of my family. Pat and Richard Jones have provided me with great inspiration owing to their passion for the scholastic. Many years ago my sister, Trisha Muraca, and brother, Johnffank D’Addario, planted the seed of intellectual pursuit in me. I have them to thank for my drive to learn. A special thank you to my sister who has been my emotional rock and my biggest supporter. Her zest for life and tremendous intellectual capacity continually inspire me to pursue my dreams. I would also like to express a note of gratitude to Kimberly D’Addario, Carmine, Nicoletta and Isabella Muraca for their support and love over the years. My parents, Angelo and Maria D’Addario, have inspired the context of this dissertation. Their stories of migration, experiences of work and the manner in which they negotiated care work in our household were necessary components of how we experienced home and a sense of belonging. I thank them both for their dedication to the family and unrelenting belief in my potential. They are my most valuable role models, instilling in me the true meaning of commitment. A special thank you to my grandmother, Giovanna Ferrante. Her experiences of here and there ignited my curiosity about home. Above all, I am most thankful to Brad Thornton. Words cannot describe my level of appreciation. This project could not have been completed without his relentless belief in me and ample help. Most importantly, I am so very grateful for our endless conversations. Irrespective of the topic, he makes a point of always hearing me and engaging with my ideas. These precious talks have provided the ground from which so many ideas have grown. This dissertation is dedicated to Brad and Angelica - for the ways that you both have helped me understand and reimagine home. Table of Contents Abstract................................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................iii List of Tables ....................................................................................................................viii List of Figures ...................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1: Introduction: Finding a Home ......................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 Transnationalism, Geography and Identity Construction ................................................4 Locating the Research..................................................................................................... 10 Research Questions ........................................................................................................