The Study On The Social Network Use Of Filipino Women Domestic Workers In Taipei

Taiwan, as one of the most popular destinations, attracts tons of Filipino domestic workers with the comfortable atmosphere and high level of rages. However, imperfect law system prejudices the legitimate right for days off resulting the severe restrictions of their freedom. However, within the help of information communications technology like mobile phone or SNS, they earn more opportunities and spaces for social communications and interactions. The objects of this study are the Filipino women domestic workers. The author conducted participative observation among several Filipino communities in Taipei and did depth interviews of 30 Filipino domestic workers to make clear of their social networking application use, their social networks and social interactions. By understanding their habits, preferences and motivation when using mobile phone and social networking sites to demonstrate how they progress their interaction both in reality and cyberspace. And further understand how they maintain their social networks to increase personal or organizational social capital. This thesis also draws the theory of social space, social relationship and social capital to make a comprehensive analysis of the objects. This paper found that the adoption of information communication technology deeply help Filipino domestic workers to connect with the place of origin in a more diverse convenient fragmental way; The objects updated their SNS all the time to maintain their social network and frequent social interactions; The objects deliberately separate their friends in SNS, strong ties which formulated between close relatives and friends are regarded as the most important connection, on the contrary, weak ties which originated from strangers are isolated to some degree; For the objects, SNS is not only socializing tools, but also a platform of self-media. They weaken their characteristics of their jobs and create an idol image in SNS. Social networks also expand their interactive space and eliminate the barriers of space; SNS help them to be active in different groups and help them to make quick transitions between different roles. Migrant workers exploit social capital formed in their networks to keep abreast of information of life and employment striving to lead a better life.