PhD thesis final - Royal Holloway, University of London

Chapter 4- Home, domesticity and belongingparents is relegated to the domestic sphere 22 , family interactions are also changed. As itis often the female expatriates who have to sacrifice in such division of domestic labour,they also have different reactions and perceptions toward such change. For some, beingrelegated to the domestic sphere may make them feel powerless and lackingself-assurance, as Alice (a housewife lives in a local gated community in Shanghai forthree years) illustrates:Every morning, soon after walking my sons to school, I go to the market to shop forgroceries and sometimes deal with household business if necessary. Normally, I will finishthat by noon and will take a nap after lunch. I don‘t have a specific schedule in theafternoon and just wait to cook dinner for my family. It is nearly the same everyday. Ibelieve it is also what other Tai tais do. We are expected to take charge of children‘seducation and husbands do not seem to care much. Sometimes, my husband has even toldme not to put too much pressure on my sons. I felt that he doesn‘t care about our children‘sschoolwork and lives, and is only concerned about his job. As a housewife, it seems to bemy duty. What can I say? I am not a career woman and I don‘t have excuse not to do that.The extract has shown that many of my female respondents, like Alice, often endeavourto fulfill the role of a housewife and mother. Also, it implies the male expatriates‘expectations of a housewife, as Roger (a R&D manager lives in Shanghai with hisfamily, in his 30s) said:The reason why we don‘t hire A Yi is because I don‘t think it is necessary. Also, it is notgood to let my children think that they are served by A Yi. So, my wife has to do all chores22 Among my respondents, it is usually the female expatriates who quit their jobs or give up their careerto go back to take care of the household and family. However, one male expatriate decided to devotehimself to domesticity due to health considerations.152