The language of labor export in political discourse: “modern-day heroism” and constructions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)
In: Philippine Political Science JournalSearch for other papers by Jean Encinas-Franco in
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This article argues that the bagong bayani (new hero) representation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) justifies labor export. Specifically, it seeks to account for the manner in which such a discursive label was shaped by political discourse surrounding the much publicized case of Flor Contemplacion, a domestic helper hanged for double murder in Singapore in 1995. Using textual analysis of Senate hearings and news reports, this paper shows that shared discursive themes found in the texts resonate with the heroic discourse of migrants. These themes are likewise argued to be interdiscursively linked with gendered and globalized discourses in society. Overall, the findings indicate that the heroic discourse and its linguistic elements downplay the state’s fundamental role as a labor exporter and the contradictions associated with state sponsorship of overseas migration.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 4202 | 756 | 35 |
| Full Text Views | 165 | 60 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 384 | 142 | 0 |
The language of labor export in political discourse: “modern-day heroism” and constructions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)
In: Philippine Political Science JournalSearch for other papers by Jean Encinas-Franco in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
This article argues that the bagong bayani (new hero) representation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) justifies labor export. Specifically, it seeks to account for the manner in which such a discursive label was shaped by political discourse surrounding the much publicized case of Flor Contemplacion, a domestic helper hanged for double murder in Singapore in 1995. Using textual analysis of Senate hearings and news reports, this paper shows that shared discursive themes found in the texts resonate with the heroic discourse of migrants. These themes are likewise argued to be interdiscursively linked with gendered and globalized discourses in society. Overall, the findings indicate that the heroic discourse and its linguistic elements downplay the state’s fundamental role as a labor exporter and the contradictions associated with state sponsorship of overseas migration.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 4202 | 756 | 35 |
| Full Text Views | 165 | 60 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 384 | 142 | 0 |