Abstract:
This study explores the transformation of gender roles in the domestic work of female
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the 1990s and the 2020s through a multimethod approach.
It incorporates quantitative data from government employment databases and qualitative data from
Google Forms interviews with female OFWs. In comparison with interviews conducted with non-
OFWs using qualitative survey approaches, this research presents new insights on the experiences
of Filipino OFWs, their motivations, problems, difficulties, and perceptions about their overseas
work. The study also looks at the interplay between socioeconomic, cultural, and policy contexts
in shaping female participation in the labor market, options for occupations, and challenges in
international employment. Findings indicate a marked shift from an early 1990s focus on
caregiving and domestic service occupations to a diverse number of occupational choices
including healthcare, education, and information technology by the 2020s. While acknowledging
the increased financial independence and empowerment of some female OFWs, the study also
found persistent equilibria such as workplace discrimination, wage disparity, work-life balance
issues, and occupational marginalization. It concludes by suggesting the need for targeted policy
interventions through interventions including mental health support services and skills
enhancement programs to effectively address the multifaceted challenges inherent in female labor
migration and contribute to a more encompassing understanding of the dynamic interplay between
gender, employment, and migration in the Philippines.
