An interview with the AuPair-Repair initiative about migrant care work and its commitment to more recognition and fair working conditions
The term "au pair" translates to "on equal terms." However, the reality for many au pairs is quite different: many experience a lack of empathy and exploitation within their host families. Furthermore, au pair work is a highly invisible and marginalized form of care work—like many other jobs primarily performed by migrants. The AuPair-Repair initiative is fighting against this: it connects and empowers Latin American au pairs in Austria.
Chris spoke with Elizabeth and Paulina from the AuPair-Repair initiative about their work and perspectives on feminist struggles.
Chris: Hi, it's great that we have the opportunity to talk about your experiences as au pairs. Thank you for taking the time. To start, I'm interested in knowing: What does care work mean to you? What feelings and images do you associate with care work?
Elizabeth & Paulina: For us, care work means taking on the task of caring for another person. Care activities involve the responsibility and energy of the person performing them. Caring can be portrayed as love, parenthood, friendship, sisterhood, brotherhood, etc., but also as work—and care work is hard work.
What is special about the care work that au pairs do compared to other domestic workers?
The problem for au pairs begins when the situation becomes dire. The work is sold as a cultural exchange, a chance to learn a language and explore a new city. Therefore, au pairs are very confused when they realize they're constantly working instead of "having fun." Suddenly, caring for a child means a lot of responsibility, energy, and work.
In Austria, au pairs are only allowed to work 18 hours per week, which is essentially 3,5 hours per day from Monday to Friday. Compared to domestic workers, au pairs are expected to work less, as their focus should be on learning and practicing the language. We've heard of cases where the au pair was not only responsible for the children but also had to keep the house clean. Unfortunately, au pair work is still viewed as an easy task: It's considered a "simple" job, and the au pair is like an older sister or brother.
How did your initiative come about and what do you want to achieve?
As au pairs ourselves, we noticed that au pairs are sometimes unaware of their rights. This is because their language skills are not yet sufficient and au pairs often work in the suburbs, which isolates them and makes it difficult to build a social network. We started our project to raise awareness of au pair work and empower au pairs during their year. We want to strengthen the au pair network, create a strong community, make other au pairs aware that they are not alone, and provide them with the right information so they can have a positive au pair experience abroad.
Migrant domestic workers repeatedly report experiencing isolation and violence in the households they work in. How do you manage to break out of this isolation and support au pairs? How do you reach other au pairs?
Care work is a very isolating activity, and violence is usually due to the power dynamics that come with these activities.
In addition, being a migrant brings with it additional vulnerability and precariousness.
Their visa or residence permit is tied to their worker. Furthermore, for au pairs, the place where they live is the same place where they work. We want to build strong support networks so they aren't alone and isolated. Because the language was easier, we started our project with Latin American au pairs first. As au pairs ourselves, we were already in some Facebook and WhatsApp groups, so it was easy to reach out to other au pairs. We shared helpful information and collected frequently asked questions. We also try to organize meetings so the au pairs can get to know each other and share their experiences. Ultimately, we use our experiences to help new generations of au pairs.
You published a manifesto on March 8. What are your demands in it?
We point out and remind privileged (white) women that care jobs, which are mostly performed by migrant women, perpetuate patriarchal structures. As a society, we should not empower one woman by oppressing another. Behind a powerful, strong, and hard-working mother stands an au pair or a babysitter with unfair working conditions.
Does this mean you are asking privileged white women to stop employing au pairs?
We cannot and do not want to abolish the au pair program because it is an opportunity for migration for many people. And migration is a human right. We want people to recognize and respect the work that au pairs do. We want them to treat au pairs as equals and pay them fairly. You are not doing them a favor; you are hiring someone to do a job they cannot do themselves.
For many years, the feminist movement has focused on the care work of white cis women in private households and nuclear families. What is your perspective and critique of this?
Au pairs are no exception. Essentially, an au pair is a care worker who has an obligation to learn the language. Of course, not all au pairs have bad experiences. It's time to empower them and make them aware of their important role in society.
If we were to meet again in a world where the care work of au pairs is recognized and valued, what would it look like?
It would be a world that values and understands that care work is the foundation of our society. There are strong, independent parents who have children, and strong, independent, and courageous au pairs who go abroad and care for children—all in a different language. We need each other. We must stick together. If children are so important for the future and older people carry so much important life experience, then people who care for them are just as important and should also be recognized for their work.
Thank you for the interview!
If you want to support AuPair Repair, follow them on social media: @aupairrepair (Instagram) or contact them via email: aupairrepair@gmail.com
© 2024. This work is openly licensed via CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of thethe authorThe views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.
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