In the Home But Not at Home: The Invisible Violence on Migrant Domestic Workers in Hong Kong

Over the last half century, Hong Kong has had a reputation as a capital for consumer culture and a poster child for ‘East meets West.’ Underneath its shiny exterior and staggering vertical concrete jungle, a marginalised labour force upholds the socio-economic progression of individuals and communities. This group are women domestic workers from neighbouring countries, working and living in their employers’ homes and paid less than the wages of other residents. The justification for their conditions is the temporary nature of their contract, however; in reality, most workers work beyond the requirement for permanent residency and have been an integral part of Hong Kong society for decades. This chapter explores the invisible, gender-based violence that occurs behind closed doors that has been largely unseen. It creates the context for which the live-in requirement perpetuates a cycle of abuse and exploitation and demonstrates how some workers are engaged in art activism to resist the oppressive nature of their work that is, largely, their life in Hong Kong. It reveals that collective creativity and resilience can cultivate strength and empower one another to be more than just workers – but rather humans who have the power to impact generations to come.