Abstract:
Based on the constructivist epistemological standpoint and qualitative research design, the
present study explores the lived experiences of housemaids regarding their workplace in
Islamabad. The population of this study comprised household domestic workers working
in Islamabad. For this study, purposive and snowball sampling techniques have been used
to select respondents for in-depth interviews. This study was conducted utilizing the
phenomenological approach as a methodological framework. Nancy Fraser’s Theory of
Social Justice in her Framework of Perspectival Dualism is used to understand obstacles in
the lived experiences of female domestic workers. Interviews have been used as a data
collection tool. The in-depth interviews and field observations enabled the principal
researcher to draw new themes and inferences. Data for this study was collected till the
saturation point. Hence, twenty interviews were conducted with the domestic workers. The
data was analyzed by employing a thematic analysis technique. The findings were
concluded based on the themes and sub-themes derived from the data collected through
thematic analysis. The results revealed the emergence of violence in several forms: sexual
violence, physical violence, psychological violence, and economic violence. The findings
indicate that economic violence emerged as the most prevalent form of violence observed
through data analysis. Lack of familial and peer support, government’s efficiency, the
control of employers through manipulation, conditional care, and limited agency,
economic strain, the embedded social stigma that domestic workers discern as a crucial
element, their growing aversion towards their profession, and maladaptive survival
mechanisms surfaced as major obstacles. Implementation of the current legislation and
curation of a separate policy for live-out domestic workers that surmises a fixed wage rate
is a necessary measure that needs to be adopted at the earliest. Additionally, a robust
inspection mechanism with regular monitoring must be introduced for the protection of the
domestic workers along with public awareness programs are some policy
recommendations that the sitting government should consider without delay.
