Compare and contrast how studies of sex work and undocumented migrant labour use the concept of risk. Discuss how this helps social scientists understand shadow work.
Uploaded by Lesraw on Jan 29, 2016
Compare and contrast how studies of sex work and undocumented migrant labour use the concept of risk. Discuss how this helps social scientists understand shadow work.
This essay will define the concept of risk in the context of shadow work. Case studies on shadow workers will be used as examples to support this understanding. The main body of this essay will identify similarities between Burnett and Whyte's (2011) study into the issue of risk in undocumented migrant labour and Teela Sanders et al (2005) study into indoor sex workers. The essay will also provide the different aspects on the concept of risk between the two theories.
Illegal migrant workers come to the UK to work for many reasons; unemployment, sending money to their families, joining family or fleeing persecution. their illegal status makes them especially vulnerable to exploitation by unprincipled employers. The undocumented workers often live in fear of being found out, moving from place to place to avoid discovery by the immigration authorities. The undocumented workers' vulnerability is structured by a political combination of labour market instruction as well as immigration control. This has terrible consequences for illegal migrants as workers are exposed to extreme thresholds of risk of injury or even death. . (Mythen, 2012, )
The independent newspaper report (2010) into the Morecombe Bay cockle pickers disaster illustrated how migrant shadow work is characterized by exploitation, vulnerability and risk. The report exposed the appalling working conditions the cockle pickers experienced. The workers were managed by gang masters who exploited, mistreated with no thought for their safety, generated profits through the use of these undocumented workers with their cheap labour.
(The Independent, 2010, cited in Mythen 2012, pg.104).
Burnett and Whyte's (2011) case study into the risks of shadow work illustrates how fourteen undocumented workers interviewed experienced all sorts of physical, emotional and personal risks . The qualitative research highlighted that they were often badly treated, overworked, underpaid and treated as second class citizens. . 'I have a family and if I have a choice between working illegally or starving my family I will work illegal .... '(Mythen, 2012, p. 121). Many were forced to work in dangerous conditions with no safety training or equipment being regularly exposed to serious risk and harm. Burnett and Whyte reported that nine out of the 14 interviewees had suffered a serious...