Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Multi-sector Communications (Ph.D.)

Department

Division of Mass Communication

First Advisor

Nancy DiTunnariello

Second Advisor

Alana Glaser

Third Advisor

Tuija Parikka

Abstract

This study investigates patterns of domestic worker abuse in the working relationship between a foreign migrant domestic worker and their diplomat employer. This study focuses on the role of communication as a protection for domestic worker safety. The aim of this research is to explore the unique employer-employee relationship between a domestic worker and diplomat, and whether there are safeguards in place that allow for the domestic worker to perform their duties, without circumstances of domestic worker abuse. This study examines the relationships between communication, knowledge, and power within the system of Diplomacy through the lens of domestic employees alleging abuse by their Diplomat employer using content analysis. This research specifically focuses on individuals who are part of the State Department’s Domestic Worker temporary visa program, living and working in the United States in the home of a Diplomat, who is also on a temporary visa. Legal cases are utilized to provide the perspective of the Domestic worker. This work uses concepts including Intersectionality (Crenshaw,1989), the Spiral of Silence (Noelle-Neumann, 1974) and Theory of Social Space (Bourdieu, 1984) to further discuss the unique experience of these individuals living and working for a fully immune diplomat. Historically, diplomatic immunity is not waived in the United States to address situations of alleged abuse brought forth by domestic workers. In this research study, through discovering patterns of alleged abuse, more light is shed on the diplomatic employer-employee relationship in the United States. This study explores the need for diplomatic immunity and goes on to introduce a framework of social support inclusive of the International Labor Organizations’ concept of informal social protection. In addition, this project explores the enforcement of the State Department Domestic Worker Temporary Program, and the need for this group of domestic workers to have accessible healthcare. This exploration is for the purpose of the domestic worker having a work experience without alleged abuse taking place while in the United States.

Download

Share

COinS