DOMESTIC WORK AND (IN)VISIBILITIES: EXPERIENCES OF IMMIGRANT WOMEN FROM THE PALOP IN PORTUGAL

Abstract

In recent decades, Portugal has welcomed numerous women from the PALOP countries (Portuguese-speaking African countries), who migrate in search of better living conditions, economic autonomy, and new prospects. For many, domestic work emerges as one of the few available avenues for professional integration, albeit characterized by deep dynamics of precariousness and exploitation. Their trajectories highlight resilience in the face of gender, racial, and ethnic inequalities, providing a privileged lens through which to understand both the everyday realities of migration and the broader social structures that shape them. This study analyses the experiences and perceptions of PALOP migrant women employed in the domestic work sector in Portugal, with a focus on working conditions and dynamics of discrimination. The relevance of the topic lies in giving visibility to a frequently marginalized group, contributing to academic debate on migration, domestic work, and structural inequalities, as well as fostering critical reflection on public policies and social justice. The research followed a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, based on semi-structured interviews with 11 women from different PALOP countries residing in Portugal. The narratives reveal precarious working conditions, lack of formal contracts, low wages, long working hours, and situations of exploitation. Participants also reported experiences of racial and gender discrimination, with significant impacts on their physical and emotional health. At the same time, strategies of resistance and agency emerged through informal networks, the support of civil society organizations, and collective mobilization. The study concludes that formal recognition of domestic work as an essential activity is indispensable for promoting social justice, gender equity, and respect for human rights. It further emphasizes the need for inclusive public policies and for expanding academic research on migrant women in specific professional sectors, through comparative and intersectional approaches.