Breaking the Stigma of Breadwinners: Exploring the Struggles and Challenges of Single Filipinos Overseas in Qatar, A Phenomenology

Authors

  • Nival S. Ostan, EdD Philippine School Doha, Doha, Qatar,Research Development, Accreditation and Publication Office, PSD, Doha, Qatar, Research Capstone Project, PSD, Doha, Qatar
  • Lawrence Gabriel R. Mararac Philippine School Doha, Doha, Qatar,Research Development, Accreditation and Publication Office, PSD, Doha, Qatar, Research Capstone Project, PSD, Doha, Qatar
  • Joshua Andrei Samen Philippine School Doha, Doha, Qatar,Research Development, Accreditation and Publication Office, PSD, Doha, Qatar, Research Capstone Project, PSD, Doha, Qatar
  • Aleenah Kathreen N. Roxas Philippine School Doha, Doha, Qatar,Research Development, Accreditation and Publication Office, PSD, Doha, Qatar, Research Capstone Project, PSD, Doha, Qatar
  • Isiah Bryant A. Camarao Philippine School Doha, Doha, Qatar,Research Development, Accreditation and Publication Office, PSD, Doha, Qatar, Research Capstone Project, PSD, Doha, Qatar
  • Juliana Mae C. Calungcaguin Philippine School Doha, Doha, Qatar,Research Development, Accreditation and Publication Office, PSD, Doha, Qatar, Research Capstone Project, PSD, Doha, Qatar
  • Hannah Agatha L. Otieco Philippine School Doha, Doha, Qatar,Research Development, Accreditation and Publication Office, PSD, Doha, Qatar, Research Capstone Project, PSD, Doha, Qatar
  • Kian Jethro C. Curata Philippine School Doha, Doha, Qatar,Research Development, Accreditation and Publication Office, PSD, Doha, Qatar, Research Capstone Project, PSD, Doha, Qatar

Keywords:

Single Breadwinners, Breadwinners, Overseas Filipino Workers, Filipino Expatriates, Families, Qatar

Abstract

Background: Qatar is a melting pot of cultures. Qatar’s welcoming approach has led more and more expatriates over the years—including single Filipinos who seek better opportunities and stability for themselves and their families. This research study endeavors to understand Single Overseas Filipino workers’ lived experiences, analyzing their struggles and challenges in Qatar. Methods: This qualitative research utilized a phenomenological research design exploring and acknowledging single Filipino breadwinners’ experiences in Qatar. It corresponds to the central question: “How does the reality of being a single overseas Filipino worker in Qatar, providing for their families back home in the Philippines, affect their current state?” The data set was gathered in the form of an interview and was analyzed through a dendrogram. Findings: Based on the responses of the purposely-chosen participants, four themes were created. These are (1) Personal Circumstances which includes Managing Emotions, Conquering Homesickness, and Finding Self-Direction; (2) Familial Facets, which encompasses Undertaking Responsibilities, Facing Expectations, and Understanding Situations; (3) Social Influences which incorporates Adapting Socially, Strengthening Relationships, and Diverging Connections; (4) Financial Foes which involves Generating Income, Managing Remittances, and Stabilizing Finances. Conclusion: The inspiring stories of the single Overseas Filipino Workers who served as the family’s breadwinners serve as an eye-opener to the struggles, opportunities, and strategies they employ to make sense of the journey they are taking. These will also serve as footnotes to aspiring Filipino expatriates who put families at the center of their lives. Recommendations: Future researchers may focus on various aspects and factors beyond this research, such as those with families, married, or widows. Furthermore, jobs are part of different collar jobs with different genders or social statuses.

References

Advincula-Lopez, L. V. (2005). OFW remittances, community, social and personal services and the growth of social capital. Philippine Sociological Review, 58-74.

Aguilera, Donna C. (1998). Crisis Intervention: Theory and Methodology, 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby.

Albert, J. R. G., Santos, A. G. F., & Vizmanos, J. F. V. (2018). Profile and determinants of the middle-income class in the Philippines (No. 2018-20). PIDS Discussion Paper Series.

Anthony, J. D., & Crystal, J.A. (2021). Qatar. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Qatar

Ariate, R. J., Cruz, R., Dimaculangan, J., & Tibayan, C. A. (2015). The role of facebook in sustaining relationship among families of ofw. Communication Research, 2(1).

Azher, M. (2018). Why does Qatar attract so many expats? Find out. Qatar Day. https://www.qatarday.com/blog/information/reasons-why-expats-continue-to-come-to-qatar/34800

Barnett, Rosalind C. 1994. “Home-to-Work Spill-over Revisited: A Study of Full-Time Employed Women in Dual-Earner Couples.” Journal of Marriage and Family 56(3): 647-656.

Barnhill, L. R. (1979). Healthy Family Systems. The Family Coordinator, 28(1), 94–100. https://doi.org/10.2307/583274

Berkman, L. F., Glass, T., Brissette, I., & Seeman, T. E. (2000). From social integration to health: Durkheim in the new millennium. Social science & medicine, 51(6), 843-857.

Bernarte, R. P., Datiles, J. C. M., Samson, R. T., Velasco, S. M. B. (2015). Reshaping communication: A Study of How Mediated to Computer Mediated Communication Exchanges Affects the Relationship among Overseas Filipino Workers Families. European Academic Research. Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://www.euacademic.org/UploadArticle/1343.pdf

Bolger, Niall, DeLongis, Anita, Kessler, Ronald C., and Wethington, E. (1989). The Contagion of Stress across Multiple Roles. Journal of Marriage and Family 51(1): 175-183.

Boardman, J. D. (2004). Stress and physical health: the role of neighborhoods as mediating and moderating mechanisms. Social science & medicine, 58(12), 2473-2483.

Bronfenbrenner, U., & Morris, P. A. (1998). The ecology of developmental processes. In W. Damon & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology: Theoretical models of human development (pp. 993–1028). John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Castro-Palaganas, E., Spitzer, D. L., Kabamalan, M. M. M., Sanchez, M. C., Caricativo, R., Runnels, V., ... & Bourgeault, I. L. (2017). An examination of the causes, consequences, and policy responses to the migration of highly trained health personnel from the Philippines: the high cost of living/leaving—a mixed method study. Human resources for health, 15(1), 1-14.

Choe, J., O’Regan, M., & Kimbu, A. N. (2020). Filipino migrant workers’ leisure and subjective quality of life in Macao. World Leisure Journal, 62(3), 242-260.

Chong, A., Yahya, F. B., & Paragas, F. (2016). Migrants, mobiles and money: Alterity and the confluence of three transnational flows. In State, Society and Information Technology in Asia Alterity between online and offline politics. essay, Taylor and Francis.

Cleofas, J. V., Eusebio, M. C. S., & Pacudan, E. J. P. (2021). Anxious, Apart, and Attentive: A Qualitative Case Study of Overseas Filipino Workers’ Families in the time of COVID-19. The Family Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807211006339

Cloutier-Fisher, D., Kobayashi, K., and Smith, A. (2011). The Subjective Dimension of Social Isolation: A Qualitative Investigation of Older Adults’ Experiences in Small Social Support Networks. Journal of Aging Studies 25: 407-414. Doi: 10.1016/j.jaging.2011.03.012.

Consumer Expectations Survey Second Quarter 2021. (2021). Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Lists/Consumer%20Expectation%20Report/Attachments/20/CES_2qtr2021.pdfpdf

Deschenes, G. (2011). The spiritual anthropology of leisure: The homo faber-religiosus-ludens. Counselling and Spirituality/Counseling et spiritualite, 30(2), 57-85.

Espejo, R. (2015). Introduction. In Migrant workers (pp. 8–8). Introduction, Greenhaven Press, A part of Gale, Cengage Learning.

Expats in Qatar - Statistics and trends [Infographic]. (2018). GO Gulf Qatar. https://www.go-gulf.qa/expats-in-qatar-statistics-and-trends-infographic/

Go, S. (2001). “International Labor Migration and the Filipino Family: Examining the Social Dimensions.” Asian Migrant, 14: 103-109.

Gopinath, R. (2011). Employees’ Emotions in the Workplace. Science Alert. Retrieved 2021, from https://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=rjbm.2011.1.15&org=10

Graham, E., Jordan, L. P. (2011). Migrant parents and the psychological well-being of left-behind children in Southeast Asia. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73(4), 763–787. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2011.00844.x

Hack-Polay, D. (2012). When Home Isn’t Home – A Study of Homesickness and Coping Strategies among Migrant Workers and Expatriates. ResearchGate. Retrieved 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272804990_When_Home_Isn't_Home_-_A_Study_of_Homesickness_and_Coping_Strategies_among_Migrant_Workers_and_Expatriates

Hasmi, H. M., Gross, M. J., & Scott-Young, C. M. (2014). Leisure and settlement distress: The case of South Australian migrants. Annals of Leisure Research, 17(4), 377-397.

Inquirer BrandRoom. (2019). Why being a breadwinner isn’t a ‘Piece of cake’. INQUIRER.net. https://business.inquirer.net/271552/why-being-a-breadwinner-isnt-a-piece-of-cake

Jalagat Jr, R. C., & Dalluay, V. S., (2006). MANAGING FINANCIAL RESOURCES: A NEVER ENDING CHALLENGE TO OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs).

Kagan, J. (2021). What is a breadwinner? Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/breadwinner.asp

Licuanan, P. B. (1994). CHAPTER IV A MORAL RECOVERY PROGRAM: BUILDING A PEOPLE-BUILDING A NATION. Values in Philippine culture and education. 1, 35.

Malit, F., & Ledesma, D. (2019). Migrant Protection by Education in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): Lessons and Recommendations on the Philippine Post-Arrival Orientation Service (PAOS) in Qatar. CIFAL Philippines. https://cifal.up.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Malit-and-Ledesma-2019-Policy-Brief-Migrant-Protection-by-Education.pdf

McLeod, S. (2019). Qualitative vs quantitative research. Study Guides for Psychology Students - Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/qualitative-quantitative.html

Murakami, E., Shimizutani, S. & Yamada, E. Projection of the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Welfare of Remittance-Dependent Households in the Philippines. EconDisCliCha 5, 97–110 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41885-020-00078-9

Perpetua, A. L. (2019). A Case study of the OFW as returned teachers in the Philippines and assessing the reintegration program of the Philippines (Doctoral dissertation)

Portes, A., & Landolt, P. (2000). Social capital: promise and pitfalls of its role in development. Journal of Latin American Studies, 32(2), 529-547.

Quito, E. (1994). The ambivalence of Filipino traits and values. Values in Philippine culture and education, 1, 51.

Rafael, V. L. (1996). 'Your Grief Is Our Gossip': Overseas Filipinos and Other Spectral Presences.

Reyes, M. M. (2007). Migration and Filipino children left behind: A literature review. UNICEF and Miriam College, Women and Gender Institute.

Simkhada, P. P., Regmi, P. R., van Teijlingen, E., & Aryal, N. (2017). Identifying the gaps in Nepalese migrant workers’ health and well-being: a review of the literature. Journal of travel medicine, 24(4), tax021.

Snoj, J. (2019). Population of Qatar by nationality in 2019. Priya DSouza Communications. https://priyadsouza.com/population-of-qatar-by-nationality-in-2017/

Spitzer, D. L., & Piper, N. (2014). Retrenched and returned: Filipino migrant workers during times of crisis. Sociology, 48(5), 1007-1023.

Straiton, M.L., Ledesma, H.M.L. & Donnelly, T.T. A qualitative study of Filipina immigrants’ stress, distress and coping: the impact of their multiple, transnational roles as women. BMC Women's Health 17, 72 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-017-0429-4

Tarroja, M. C. (2010). Revisiting the Definition and Concept of Filipino Family: A Psychological Perspective. Philippine Journal of Psychology. 43.

The Peninsula Qatar (2019). Qatar region’s most stable, growing economy. https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/22/10/2019/Qatar-region%E2%80%99s-most-stable,-growing-economy

Thurber, C. A., & Walton, E. (2007). Preventing and Treating Homesickness. ResearchGate. Retrieved 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6601167_Preventing_and_Treating_Homesickness

Uy-Tioco, C. (2007). Overseas Filipino workers and text messaging: Reinventing transnational mothering. Continuum, 21(2), 253–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/10304310701269081

Valerio, R. L. (2002). Iisang Pisa: Clans in Chain Migration. In Dizon-Añonuevo, E. and Añonuevo, A. (eds.). Coming Home: Women, Migration, and Reintegration. Philippines: Balikbayani Foundation, Inc. and Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiative Inc.

Van Manen, M., & Adams, C. (2010). Phenomenology. International Encyclopedia of Education, 449-455. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-044894-7.01539-6

Van Tilburg, M. A., Vingerhoets, A. J., & Van Heck, G. L. (1996). Homesickness: a review of the literature, Psychological Medicine, 26, 899-912. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291700035248

Cultural Adaptation: Definition, Theory, Stages & Examples. (2015, August 5). Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/cultural-adaptation-definition-theory-stages-examples.html.

Vangelisti, A. L. (Ed.). (2004). Handbook of family communication. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.

Weber, Martha L. (1998). She Stands Alone: A Review of Recent Literature on Women and Social Support. Winnipeg, Canada: Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence.

Weishaar, H. B. (2008). Consequences of international migration: A qualitative study on stress among Polish migrant workers in Scotland. Public health, 122(11), 1250-1256.

Yamada, E., Shimizutani, S., & Murakami, E. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic, remittances and financial inclusion in the Philippines. Philippine Review of Economics, 57(1), 18-41

Downloads

Published

2022-02-18

How to Cite

Nival S. Ostan, EdD, Lawrence Gabriel R. Mararac, Joshua Andrei Samen, Aleenah Kathreen N. Roxas, Isiah Bryant A. Camarao, Juliana Mae C. Calungcaguin, Hannah Agatha L. Otieco, & Kian Jethro C. Curata. (2022). Breaking the Stigma of Breadwinners: Exploring the Struggles and Challenges of Single Filipinos Overseas in Qatar, A Phenomenology. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 61(2), 14–37. Retrieved from https://www.gssrr.org/index.php/JournalOfBasicAndApplied/article/view/13816

Issue

Section

Articles