PhD_Stubberud, Elisabeth

Focus: Examines the au pair scheme in Norway, exploring its implications on domestic work, migration, and citizenship.
Shift in Context:
- Transition of Norway from a sending country to a receiving one for au pairs over the past 20-25 years.
- Changing public perception from au pair (migrant) to host family perspectives, emphasizing 'cultural exchange' as a justification for hiring migrant domestic workers.
Key Issues Explored:
- Lack of recognition of domestic work performed by au pairs and the associated absence of labor rights.
- Investigation into the emotional and social dimensions of labor performed under the guise of 'cultural exchange'.

Introduction: Justifies the need for au pair research, outlines research questions.
Articles Summary:
1. ‘It’s not much’: Affective (boundary) work in the au pair scheme
  - Explores the emotional labor and boundary setting in the relationships between au pairs and their host families, often characterized by underappreciation of their work.
2. From intimate relations to citizenship? Au pairing and the potential for (straight) citizenship in Norway
  - Investigates citizenship possibilities through personal relationships, discussing the role of romantic involvements in gaining legal rights and social integration.
3. Framing the au pair: Problems of sex, work and motherhood in Norwegian au pair documentaries
  - Analyzes how Norwegian media portrayals shape public understanding and narratives around au pairs, frequently characterizing them as vulnerable and exploited.
Intersectionality at Work: Discusses how different social categories (gender, race, citizenship, etc.) overlap and influence au pairing experiences.
Methodology: Details a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, participant observation, and media analysis.
Conclusion: Reflects on the findings and suggests improvements to the au pair scheme to better recognize it as work and uphold workers' rights.

Cultural Exchange vs. Labor: Tension between the advertised purpose of the au pair scheme as cultural exchange and the reality of it functioning as labor exploitation.
Affective Labor: Emotional and psychological work performed by au pairs, often undervalued and unaccounted for in the formal recognition of labor.
Citizenship: The relationship between au pairing and legal recognition, including pathways to formal and informal citizenship through personal relationships.
Intersectionality: The interconnected nature of social categorizations and their simultaneous effects on individuals, particularly au pairs, who navigate complex systems of power and marginalization.

Au pairs often downplay their contributions with phrases like ‘It’s not much’, reflecting social inequalities.
Affective labor is central to maintaining relationships with host families and requires boundary negotiations between roles.

Examines how au pairs navigate personal relationships for opportunities to gain citizenship.
Heteronormative dynamics play a crucial role in shaping their narratives around agency and belonging.

Analyzes two documentaries portraying au pairs predominantly as Filipinas, with a focus on labor exploitation and maternal themes.
Suggests the representation of au pairs as both victims and sexualized figures complicates the understanding of their roles.

Overall Argument: Au pairing is more than a cultural exchange; it embodies significant negotiation of power, citizenship, and identity through complex interpersonal relationships.
Recommendations: To enhance the recognition of au pairing as labor, changes to the legislative framework would be necessary to provide better support for au pairs as workers.