TAMIU Professor Sheds Light on The Transnational Worker and Their Struggle for Identity

We pass them on our way to work, school, and home but can we identify what they are? We see them from the comfort of our vehicles and pay no mind to where they go or where they come from. What are these fixtures? --these bodies that stand at bus stops, under trees, and can sometimes be seen standing in bunches. If you are a resident of Laredo or have called Laredo your home at one point, you know who I am referring to. These women who conviene under the unforgiving sun, are fixtures seen around the most affluent neighborhoods of our town. These “Transnational Workers”, International women who migrate to the United States for “Domestic Work”, can collectively be found in these locations.

Ariadne Gonzalez is a professor of Communications at Texas A&M International University, and a PHD hopeful studying at Texas A&M University. Professor Gonzalez, soon to be Dr. Gonzalez, is working on her dissertation that shed’s light on these “transnational workers”. Her dissertation work focuses on the ethnography of local and international Mexican women who have made their career out of “domestic work”.

When asked what her main focus was, Gonzalez stated that, “The study [focuses] on these women and how they construct their identity”. The catalyst for her research was posed from her curiosity, “I came across these hordes of women [at the bus stop]. Twenty women, thirty women, and i’m thinking, who in the world are these [women]? Where are they going?” Her background in organizational communications triggered her to get answers to these questions. Gonzalez has since then made it part of her research to find out how these women shape their identity in a country known for it’s freedoms.

In order to perform her research Gonzalez knew that she was going to have a difficult time interviewing and getting to know these women.

Professor Gonzalez’s first challenge, was finding the amount of subjects that she needed for her study and the basic requirements. For her study, the requirements were to interview women eighteen years old, a Mexican citizen or Mexican in origin, and currently employed as a “domestic worker”.

Her second challenge was, getting to know these women and having them feel comfortable enough to participate in her study. When asked how she was able to land these interviews with these women she said she first had to gain their trust. The PHD hopeful rode El Metro Bus lines from all over town to the end of the line, the main bus station downtown, in order to observe her potential participants. Gonzalez said, “It took a long, long time to get these women to talk to me -- to even acknowledge my presence.” However, once she found her subjects her study took flight.

Gonzalez is currently mapping out her dissertation and hopes that her qualitative research helps other scholars in their work. She said hopefully, “What I want out of all of this is for us to focus on the workers. The workers are not just part of an organization. People should consider the worker for who they are and not because they represent the organization.”

The transnational worker is a subject for many ethnographers. These domestic workers, whether they realize it or not, are part of a bigger organization that is being studied by researchers like professor Ariadne Gonzalez. With her efforts in conjunction with other professionals in her field these women will no longer be seen as fixtures. The work that scholars, like Gonzalez, are performing will be important for other women in this field who are hoping to shape their identity in the United States.

For more information, comments, or questions regarding this article, Tina Gomez can be reached at cristina.gomez@dusty.tamiu.edu