Open AccessAn Exploration of Collective Meaning-Making among Migrant Workers
Author(s) -
P. Selvaraj
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2014.1111
Subject(s) - migrant workers , sociology , ethnic group , meaning (existential) , identity (music) , face (sociological concept) , gender studies , state (computer science) , collective identity , work (physics) , ethnography , immigration , social psychology , economic growth , psychology , political science , social science , politics , anthropology , law , physics , algorithm , acoustics , computer science , economics , psychotherapist , mechanical engineering , engineering
I engaged with workers in India who have migrated from rural districts in the southern state of Karnataka to work in the mess of an academic institute located in a western state of India. These workers faced significant challenges and vulnerabilities due to being part of the unorganised sector. The primary question for my inquiry was to understand how migrant workers negotiated these vulnerabilities and whether they could succeed in processes of informal collectivisation based on shared bonds of language and ethnicity. I interviewed six migrant workers to understand their experiences and difficulties they face. I analysed the data by building themes within and across the interview data. One of the findings of my study is that the collective identity of migrant workers who are involved in preparation of South Indian food items emerged through various symbolic acts in their living and work spaces.