跨境⺟職的實踐與關係協商

Abstract

印尼籍跨境婦女在異地工作受限於勞動條件，須以遠距方式維繫與家庭的聯繫。其母職意識深受母職與伊斯蘭教價值觀影響，這些文化規範強調母親應親自照顧與陪伴子女，使她們對無法親身參與子女生活感到自責與矛盾。然而，婦女仍透過頻繁聯繫、匯款、物質傳遞等方式，盡力履行母職責任，並發展出多樣的遠距親職實踐策略。隨著子女成長，親職互動也從生活管理逐漸轉為情感支持，呈現母職的動態性。跨境婦女身兼母親、女兒、妻子與家庭經濟支柱等多重角色，在多重照顧責任中不斷協商與重構自我認同。金錢及物質傳遞不僅是經濟支援，更成為母愛的延伸與情感補償的具體表徵，顯示她們面對結構性限制時的主動調適與韌性。婚姻關係方面，擁有穩定的婚姻更是支持她們在外工作的力量來源之一，但即使婚姻關係不穩定，跨境婦女仍展現自主性，尋求婚姻裡的要與不要，主動決定照顧資源如何再分配。母職與家庭看護工皆為以母性關懷為基礎的照顧關係，跨境婦女在兩地不同場域能相互共情及同理，幫助在陌生環境中建立認同感和成就感。隨全球照護鏈運作，跨境母職建構其特殊性，值得定義和描述。本研究受限於語言轉換及文化理解，且研究者為本國的中文母語者，對受訪者來說仍有權力位置帶來的壓迫，加以接觸時間有限，可能使某些特殊經驗未能充分呈現。本研究建議未來相關研究得納入田野觀察或焦點團體等方式，增加資料蒐集分析的管道。實務建議方面，各地方政府及移工服務中心應針對雇主及家庭看護工提供文化敏感性宣導，並建構家庭看護工的社會資源連結，宣導心理健康的重要性，鼓勵家庭看護工適時向外求助。另針對有特殊心理諮商或法律案件需求者，應建構雙語專業資源，並鼓勵通譯具備心理健康概念，作為與專業資源溝通連結的管道。Indonesian transnational women workers, constrained by labor conditions in host countries, are often compelled to maintain familial connections through remote means. Their maternal consciousness is profoundly shaped by the ideology of mothering and Islamic values, both of which emphasize the mother’s physical presence and emotional involvement in her children’s lives. As a result, these women often experience feelings of guilt and inner conflict due to their inability to participate directly in their children’s daily lives. Nevertheless, they continue to fulfill their maternal responsibilities through frequent communication, remittances, and the transmission of material goods, thereby developing diverse strategies of long-distance parenting. As their children grow older, the nature of their parenting evolves—from managing daily needs to providing emotional support—highlighting the dynamic and adaptive character of motherhood across distance.Transnational women juggle multiple roles—mother, daughter, wife, and family breadwinner—and constantly negotiate and reconstruct their identities amidst these multiple caregiving responsibilities. Money and material transfers serve not only as economic support but also as an extension of maternal love and a concrete expression of emotional compensation, demonstrating their proactive adaptation and resilience in the face of structural constraints. In terms of marital stability, a stable marriage is a source of support for their work outside the home. Even in unstable marital relationships, cross-border women demonstrate autonomy, exploring their marital needs and proactively deciding how to redistribute care resources. Both motherhood and domestic caregiving are care relationships grounded in maternal care. Cross-border women can empathize and sympathize with each other in diverse settings across two locations, helping them build a sense of identity and accomplishment in unfamiliar environments. As global care chains expand, cross-border motherhood develops distinct characteristics that merit definition and analysis.This study was constrained by limitations in language translation and cultural interpretation. Additionally, the researchers’ identity as native Chinese speakers may have unintentionally exerted power dynamics during interviews, potentially placing pressure on the participants. Furthermore, limited time spent with the interviewees may have undermined the presentation of unique and intimate personal experiences. This study recommends that future research incorporate methods such as field observations and focus groups to enhance data collection and analysis.Drawing on the results of this study, the following suggestions are offered for practical application. To enhance caregiving outcomes and support the well-being of migrant workers, practical recommendations include: delivering culturally sensitive education to both employers and caregivers; strengthening the connection between caregivers and social resources; promoting mental health literacy; and creating supportive conditions that encourage help-seeking behaviors among caregivers. Furthermore, recognizing that some caregivers may encounter psychological or legal difficulties, it would be valuable to explore the provision of bilingual professional services. Supporting interpreters in gaining basic mental health literacy could further enhance respectful and compassionate communication with professional service providers.