Friday, November 20, 2015

Week 10 – Steven C. McKay Essay

By Miggy Cruz

In “Filipino Sea Men: Identity and Masculinity in a Global Labor Niche,” McKay discussed the emergence of Filipino sea men and how societal stratification affected their lives both on this “third space” and while they are back in the Philippines. McKay discussed Filipino demographics on ships, and examined the ethnic hierarchy separating crewmembers. A large majority of the Filipinos worked the lowest paid jobs. Also, he analyzed “masculinity,” and relating it back to Filipinoness. Some took pride in their work, while continually disproving the idea that Filipinos are generally subservient and feminine.

With the Philippines’s constant promotion of the “Bagong Bayani” to the Oversees Filipino Workers (OFWs), I do not think it is simply a way to show gratitude for the sacrifices made by the these Filipino workers. It is a way of the Philippine government to continue bringing in remittances to the country, so that they could use that money, not on the people but elsewhere. I agree with the seafarer who coined the term “Gagong Bayani,” (77). These Filipinos have proven their skill and masculinity in the different niches respectively, but because they lack the ability to move up in rank, they can still be classified as “less masculine” say compared to the German seafarer.

Question:
How does this discussion of Filipino seafarers compare to the Filipino nurses overseas? Similarities and differences, comparing male and female Filipinos.


Sources:
McKay, Steven C. “Filipino Sea Men: Identity and Masculinity in a Global Labor Niche.” Asian Diasporas. Ed. Rachel S. Parreñas and Lok C.D. Siu. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2007. 63-83. Print.

The Seafarer Times. “They face no only the issues of salaries and benefits, but also the problem of safety at work.” Safety4Sea. The Seafarer Times. 30 Sept 2011. Web. 20 Nov 2015.



No comments:

Post a Comment