Au pairing after the au pair scheme: New migration rules and childcare in private homes in the UK
Lead Research Organisation:
Birkbeck, University of London
Department Name: Geography, Environment & Development Stu
Abstract
The study of paid domestic labour brings together two hotly debated issues - women's changing relationship to the home and the growth of labour migration. For many families around the world, the solution to the problem of how to balance the demands of home and paid work is to rely on low waged migrants to carry out domestic work and childcare. Transformations in women's lives and in the private spaces of the home are, therefore, intimately related to global labour flows and to state migration policies that mediate those flows.
As numbers of paid domestic workers in advanced capitalist countries have increased in recent years so has academic interest in their lives and those of their employers. Research has revealed the often problematic nature of both the relationships between domestic workers and employers and the government policies that facilitate paid domestic employment. Many countries have migration schemes specifically designed to allow migrants to enter as domestic workers and these schemes often impose restrictive conditions, limiting workers' rights and protections and increasing the likelihood of their exploitation and abuse. Even in situations where workers are not subject to such restrictions, relationships with employers can be fraught, particularly when workers care for children. Employers' anxieties about their children and their role as parents can create tensions which profoundly affect domestic workers' autonomy and conditions of work.
One under-researched group who have become increasingly important to British families are au pairs. Au pairs are defined as neither workers nor students but as participants in a 'cultural exchange' scheme who receive 'pocket money' from host families in return for 'helping' with domestic tasks. Au pairing grew substantially during the 1990s and 2000s and au pairs are now depended upon by tens of thousands of British households. While the traditional image of the au pair is of a young, carefree, woman enjoying a sojourn abroad, evidence indicates that au pairs are becoming less distinguishable from other domestic workers and may suffer from the exploitation and poor conditions that have been observed elsewhere in the sector.
Recent changes to legislation covering au pairing in the UK have created a situation that urgently needs investigation. These changes - the ending of the au pair visa and the expansion of migration from EU countries in the wake of EU enlargement - have created a new context for au pairing and new living and working conditions for au pairs. Most importantly the abolition of the au pair visa has also brought to an end the role UK Government has in defining and regulating the au pair role including the remuneration and living conditions that are appropriate. Au pairs are no longer safeguarded by Home Office guidelines, but neither are they protected by employment law. They have no right to a minimum wage, nor do they have defined maximum working hours or a right to holidays.
This project will provide data on au pairing in four ways. First, by collecting and analysing quantitative data the project will provide the first overview of the nature and extent of au pairing in the UK, including outlining working conditions. Second, through in-depth interviews with au pairs, the project will explore au pairing within the lifecourse and subjective experience of au pairs. The lack of definition of the au pair role creates a liminal position for au pairs and this experience needs to be understood. Third, through interviews with host families, the project will provide data on how families understand au pairing to fit with their identity as parents and their ideas of good parenting and how these ideals shape the relationship between host and au pair. Last, through interviews with key informants from government and specialist agencies the project will locate au pairing within the wider context of migration and the treatment of low-waged migrant workers.
As numbers of paid domestic workers in advanced capitalist countries have increased in recent years so has academic interest in their lives and those of their employers. Research has revealed the often problematic nature of both the relationships between domestic workers and employers and the government policies that facilitate paid domestic employment. Many countries have migration schemes specifically designed to allow migrants to enter as domestic workers and these schemes often impose restrictive conditions, limiting workers' rights and protections and increasing the likelihood of their exploitation and abuse. Even in situations where workers are not subject to such restrictions, relationships with employers can be fraught, particularly when workers care for children. Employers' anxieties about their children and their role as parents can create tensions which profoundly affect domestic workers' autonomy and conditions of work.
One under-researched group who have become increasingly important to British families are au pairs. Au pairs are defined as neither workers nor students but as participants in a 'cultural exchange' scheme who receive 'pocket money' from host families in return for 'helping' with domestic tasks. Au pairing grew substantially during the 1990s and 2000s and au pairs are now depended upon by tens of thousands of British households. While the traditional image of the au pair is of a young, carefree, woman enjoying a sojourn abroad, evidence indicates that au pairs are becoming less distinguishable from other domestic workers and may suffer from the exploitation and poor conditions that have been observed elsewhere in the sector.
Recent changes to legislation covering au pairing in the UK have created a situation that urgently needs investigation. These changes - the ending of the au pair visa and the expansion of migration from EU countries in the wake of EU enlargement - have created a new context for au pairing and new living and working conditions for au pairs. Most importantly the abolition of the au pair visa has also brought to an end the role UK Government has in defining and regulating the au pair role including the remuneration and living conditions that are appropriate. Au pairs are no longer safeguarded by Home Office guidelines, but neither are they protected by employment law. They have no right to a minimum wage, nor do they have defined maximum working hours or a right to holidays.
This project will provide data on au pairing in four ways. First, by collecting and analysing quantitative data the project will provide the first overview of the nature and extent of au pairing in the UK, including outlining working conditions. Second, through in-depth interviews with au pairs, the project will explore au pairing within the lifecourse and subjective experience of au pairs. The lack of definition of the au pair role creates a liminal position for au pairs and this experience needs to be understood. Third, through interviews with host families, the project will provide data on how families understand au pairing to fit with their identity as parents and their ideas of good parenting and how these ideals shape the relationship between host and au pair. Last, through interviews with key informants from government and specialist agencies the project will locate au pairing within the wider context of migration and the treatment of low-waged migrant workers.
Planned Impact
This research has the potential to impact a range of users in the commercial, public and voluntary sectors and to benefit wider publics such as au pairs, migrant domestic workers, their hosts and employers.
The project will produce data on the current operation of au pairing which has the potential to increase the effectiveness of policy and public services. The research will reveal details of au pair and host family practices, expectations and experiences which will cast light on whether the scheme operates as it is assumed to. For example, the project will provide data on the effects of au pairs not being considered 'workers', and whether they are distinguishable from paid domestic workers. It will provide information on the welfare needs of au pairs (for health care, maternity benefits etc) and the extent to which these are met. This knowledge would help policy makers revisit guidance on au pairing to bring the scheme in line with government intentions. Data will also be provided on host family motivations and concerns which are of relevance to policy makers interested in work-life balance and other family policies.
Information gathered by the project will be of use to public and third sector groups who offer support and advice to au pairs and domestic workers. The research will establish common issues faced by au pairs and could inform the extent to which there is a need for more specific support for this group and how support for au pairs is best delivered. Similar information could be used by commercial agencies, such as those who place au pairs, who would benefit from increased clarity regarding the legal definition of au pairing, and the needs of the current au pair and host populations.
The research will benefit wider publics, particularly au pairs, host families, paid domestic workers. The findings will be used to inform those involved in the sector, or thinking of becoming involved, about common problems, best practice, rights and responsibilities. Such information would be of substantial benefit to au pairs and their hosts and could impact their welfare considerably.
The project engagement plan involves rapid dissemination of findings to a range of audiences in order to enhance the impact of the research. (1) The project website will allow for rapid communication in a variety of styles (short and long articles and reports) and interaction with users. It is anticipated that the website will be particularly important for communicating with wider publics and non specialist groups. (2) An advisory group made up of policy makers and members of NGOs will be involved in the project from the outset. They will be sent reports of findings for comment and will act as a conduit to other policy makers and third sector uses. (3) Communication to non-academic users through press releases and news articles. Both Cox and Busch have extensive experience of working with the press (Busch as a journalist for over 10 years) and have good contacts in relevant media such as the BBC and broadsheet newspapers. (4) Production and dissemination of a succinct report which highlights the outcomes of the research of greatest relevance to policy makers and third sector organisations. This will be distributed to a mailing list of appropriate individuals and organisations. It will also be presented at a dissemination event to which academics, policy makers, and third sector organisations will be invited. (5) Dissemination to academic audiences through publication of journal articles, presentations at conferences in the UK and abroad and production of a book.
Professional skills will be developed by the staff throughout the project. Busch will receive training in Nvivo software; Cox and Busch will both receive web site management training. Busch will develop experience of quantitative research, use of survey monkey, analysis of quantitative data and analysis of qualitative data using Nvivo.
The project will produce data on the current operation of au pairing which has the potential to increase the effectiveness of policy and public services. The research will reveal details of au pair and host family practices, expectations and experiences which will cast light on whether the scheme operates as it is assumed to. For example, the project will provide data on the effects of au pairs not being considered 'workers', and whether they are distinguishable from paid domestic workers. It will provide information on the welfare needs of au pairs (for health care, maternity benefits etc) and the extent to which these are met. This knowledge would help policy makers revisit guidance on au pairing to bring the scheme in line with government intentions. Data will also be provided on host family motivations and concerns which are of relevance to policy makers interested in work-life balance and other family policies.
Information gathered by the project will be of use to public and third sector groups who offer support and advice to au pairs and domestic workers. The research will establish common issues faced by au pairs and could inform the extent to which there is a need for more specific support for this group and how support for au pairs is best delivered. Similar information could be used by commercial agencies, such as those who place au pairs, who would benefit from increased clarity regarding the legal definition of au pairing, and the needs of the current au pair and host populations.
The research will benefit wider publics, particularly au pairs, host families, paid domestic workers. The findings will be used to inform those involved in the sector, or thinking of becoming involved, about common problems, best practice, rights and responsibilities. Such information would be of substantial benefit to au pairs and their hosts and could impact their welfare considerably.
The project engagement plan involves rapid dissemination of findings to a range of audiences in order to enhance the impact of the research. (1) The project website will allow for rapid communication in a variety of styles (short and long articles and reports) and interaction with users. It is anticipated that the website will be particularly important for communicating with wider publics and non specialist groups. (2) An advisory group made up of policy makers and members of NGOs will be involved in the project from the outset. They will be sent reports of findings for comment and will act as a conduit to other policy makers and third sector uses. (3) Communication to non-academic users through press releases and news articles. Both Cox and Busch have extensive experience of working with the press (Busch as a journalist for over 10 years) and have good contacts in relevant media such as the BBC and broadsheet newspapers. (4) Production and dissemination of a succinct report which highlights the outcomes of the research of greatest relevance to policy makers and third sector organisations. This will be distributed to a mailing list of appropriate individuals and organisations. It will also be presented at a dissemination event to which academics, policy makers, and third sector organisations will be invited. (5) Dissemination to academic audiences through publication of journal articles, presentations at conferences in the UK and abroad and production of a book.
Professional skills will be developed by the staff throughout the project. Busch will receive training in Nvivo software; Cox and Busch will both receive web site management training. Busch will develop experience of quantitative research, use of survey monkey, analysis of quantitative data and analysis of qualitative data using Nvivo.
People |
ORCID iD |
Rosie Cox (Principal Investigator) | |
Nicky Busch (Researcher) |
Publications
Cox R
(2016)
"This is the Life I Want": <i>Au pairs' perceptions of life in the global city</i>
in Nordic Journal of Migration Research
Cox Rosie
(2018)
As an Equal?: Au Pairing in the 21st Century
Busch, N
(2015)
Au Pairs' Lives in Global Context: Sisters or Servants?
Cox, R
(2015)
Au Pairs' Lives in Global Context: Sisters or Servants?
Cox, R
(2014)
Colonization and Domestic Work
Cox R
(2018)
Gender, work, non-work and the invisible migrant: au pairs in contemporary Britain
in Palgrave Communications
Cox R
(2013)
Gendered spaces of commoditised care
in Social & Cultural Geography
Cox R
(2016)
Geographies of Global Issues: Change and Threat
Cox R
(2013)
House/Work: Home as a Space of Work and Consumption
in Geography Compass
Busch N
(2014)
Locating au pair in the UK Within a Global Political Economy of Care
in Interventions économiques
Cox, R
(2014)
Migration: The COMPAS Anthology
Cox R
(2016)
Paid Migrant Domestic Labour in a Changing Europe
Cox, R
(2017)
The contradictions of contemporary au pair schemes
Busch N
(2013)
The employment of migrant nannies in the UK: negotiating social class in an open market for commoditised in-home care
in Social & Cultural Geography
Cox, R
(2018)
Think Uber drivers have it bad? Take a look at au pairs
Busch N
(2012)
Transnational Migration, Gender and Rights
Cox, Rosie
(2012)
Transnational Migration, Gender and Rights
Cox R
(2012)
Transnational Migration, Gender and Rights
Description | This project has produced significant new knowledge on the effects of the de-regulation of au pairing in the UK. We gathered new quantitative data that shows that despite the end of any official 'au pair scheme' there are many thousands of people living and working in diverse conditions under the name 'au pairs'. Their pay is low, their conditions are often poor and they are almost entirely unprotected despite their very vulnerable position living inside their 'host family's' home. We gathered extensive new qualitative data which shows au pairs are making the balancing of work and family possible for families in the UK. Hosts are rarely motivated by a desire to take part in cultural exchange but are trying to find an affordable way to meet the competing demands of paid work and family life. The original plan for the project had been to interview 10 key informants, 40 au pairs, 40 host families and to gather quantitative data through an on-line questionnaire of au pairs. However, we found some research paths were closed off and discovered new research resources. Key informant and au pair interviews were carried out successfully and yielded rich data. We discovered that social media were important spaces for au pairs to 'hang out' and meet others in the same situation and we used these spaces to locate interviewees. Host families were much more difficult to locate and much more reluctant to be interviewed. Methods of snow-balling used successfully with au pairs did not work with hosts and some resulted in abusive emails being received. Host families were much more reluctant to discuss their behaviour than au pairs. We were able to carry out 15 interviews with host families who had between them hosted over 50 au pairs. To compensate for the lack of success of the on-line survey and to supplement data on working conditions we carried out analysis of 1000 advertisements for au pairs placed on gumtree.com. This was an incredibly successful approach. We were able to generate quantitative data about average pay and working conditions (hours worked, number of children being cared for, access to own bedroom and bathroom) and to analyse advertisements qualitatively to investigate the language used and topics highlighted by host families looking for au pairs. Involvement in research led to development of new international networks and contacts. Relationships have been built with researchers studying au pairs and NGOs supporting au pairs in Europe, the USA and Latin America. One outcome of this was the publication of the book 'Au Pairs Lives' in Global Context: Sisters or Servants' (2015: Palgrave) edited by Rosie Cox. Production of an edited collection had not been planned as part of the project but the new networks built made this possible and allowed for our findings from studying the UK to be put in international context. Rosie Cox also joined an international network based at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway which brought together researchers looking at paid domestic labour and citizenship throughout Europe. |
Exploitation Route | The activities outlined in the 'Pathways to Impact' document were used successfully to develop networks and disseminate findings so they can be used by others. For example, research findings are being used by non-academic users the British Au Pairs Agencies Association (BAPAA) and Kalayaan an NGO working with Overseas Domestic Workers (ODWs). We are working with BAPAA to use research outputs to inform government policy on au pairing. We are working with Kalayaan regarding the 'family worker exemption' to National Minimum Wage which affects au pairs and ODWs. A member of Kalayaan wrote a chapter for the edited collection 'Au Pairs' Lives in Global Context' raising awareness of this piece of legislation and findings from the project can be used by Kalayaan in their work. A number of avenues for further academic research arose from the project. We identify the following as particularly worthy of further investigation: • The differential treatment of au pairs of different nationalities • The construction of reproductive labour as something other than 'real' work and not deserving of 'real' pay within understandings of au pairing. • Links to other forms of youth mobility and the migration of highly educated youth into low-waged 'low-skilled' work |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy |
URL | https://aupairproject.wordpress.com/ |
Description | This research project was designed to better understand the experiences of au pairs and families who host au pairs since the ending of the au pair visa in 2008 and the subsequent deregulation of au pairing in the UK. The data gathered was directly disseminated to groups who might be interested in the issues raised around childcare and/ or in the welfare of au pairs. The findings were also disseminated to appropriate journalists and reported in the print and broadcast media, thereby reaching a wider audience of potentially interested parties such as parents considering hosting an au pair or au pairs with queries about their status or rights. The findings have been used by a number of groups to inform their thinking and practice. For example, the researchers worked, and will continue to work with, with the organisation BAAPA (the British Au Pairs Agencies' Association) to identify ways in which to engage with government to clarify the definition of an au pair in the UK. This work is on going but representatives from BAAPA commented that the guidelines on the gov.uk website (https://www.gov.uk/au-pairs-employment-law/au-pairs) were improved immediately following - and by implication in response to - the press coverage of our findings. This is a very important impact as the previous guidance on this website lacked clarity and created loopholes which would have allowed very poor conditions to be within the definition of 'au pairing'. Additionally, we had a productive relationship with the NGO Kalayaan who campaign for the rights of Overseas Domestic Workers (ODWs). The lack of definition of an 'au pair' in UK policy has a knock-on effect to the pay of this group of workers and the findings from the project can be used by this group as part of their wider work to gain clarity and rights for ODWs. Representatives from the Bulgarian and Romanian embassies attended a briefing event to hear about the research findings and commented on their usefulness for their nationals and, following discussion at the event, they also reported plans to liaise with each other in their dealings with problems arising from the mistreatment of au pairs. Representatives of the Low Pay Commission and the Fawcett society reported that they were very interested in the findings for their work and Representatives of the Family and Childcare Trust attended two events reporting the findings from the project and wrote to say that our findings raised 'issues that concern us' and that reference to our research would be included in a forthcoming publication. Coverage in the national media meant that a wide audience was able to hear about our research and individuals involved in au pairing such as hosts and au pairs and those considering becoming hosts or au pairs, were impacted. While it is impossible to know very much about such impacts, comments on the media reports - for example through Twitter to Woman's Hour or the 377 comments left on the Guardian article - suggest a substantial interest and concern amongst listeners and readers. Such responses could lead to changes in behaviour such as greater thought being given to the way in which au pairs are treated by hosts (and vice versa), the use of more formal channels to hire au pairs, or host families and au pairs seeking guidance about their rights and responsibilities. In the years since the research was done further outputs have been published and new audiences reached. For example, in August 2018 Rosie Cox was invited to write an opinion piece of the Guardian 438 comments have been left to date on this article and it was linked to on FaceBook 654 times. This then lead to contact with a range of interested parties including a team based in France who are developing a new au pair 'matching' app and the Anti-Traifficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU). ATLEU are involved in a legal case which is challenging the basis of the Family Worker Exemption to National Minimum Wage, a piece of legislation that also affects au pairs. Cox has been invited to contribute expert evidence to the case which will be heard in 2019. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Government, Democracy and Justice |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Title | Au pair, host and key informant interviews |
Description | Qualitative interviews with 40 au pairs; 15 families hosting au pairs and 10 key informants recorded and transcribed then coded in Nvivo. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Research has been reported in the press and to practitioners / policy makers. |
Title | Quant analysis of gumtree ads |
Description | Data from 1000 advertisements posted on gumtree.com was converted into numeric form and entered on an excel spreadsheet to allow for quantitative analysis. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | This database allowed us to provide numerical data to back up findings from qualitative research. This was reported in the press. |
Description | ATLEU blog post |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Cox, R (2019) Au pairs and the barriers to fair pay. ATLEU Compensation Blogs written for lawyers to explain the family worker exemption and its affects on au pairs. As yet no feedback on how it has been received. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://athub.org.uk/knowledge-base/blogs-compensation/#au-pairs-and-the-barriers-to-fair-pay-by-rosi... |
Description | Analysing the Political Economy of Household Services Seminar, Science Po, Paris, France |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Nicky Busch presented a paper titled 'Au pairs within a global political economy of household services'. The talk sparked discussion about the nature of UK government support - or lack of it - for households. The meeting was a seminar - the aim of it was to bring European scholars together to reflect on similarities and differences in government and other responses to domestic labour. In particular the aim was to learn from scholars form the Scandinavian countries about the effects of government schemes to encourage householders to declare domestic employment arrangements. It was clear from my participation how leftfield the UK is in terms of lack of government initiatives to tackle the irregular market in domestic work - or indeed to even really discuss it openly. So to share ideas in order to reflect on effect policies. Around 50 people heard the talk and the main aim was to inform future debate and future work on policy recommendations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Los Angeles |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | I presented a paper on the regulations of au pairing in the UK as part of a stream on mobility and immobility. The session was attended by about 50 people and there was good discussion. Good discussions with researchers from USA also thinking about the way that migrants are often fixed in place after moving abroad. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | BBC interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed by BBC TV. As a result they also ran an online piece about my research and I was invited onto TalkRadio, BBC London Radio Breakfast Show and was written about in the Evening Standard. I was also then approached by three undergraduate media students to help with their project work. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42037507 |
Description | BSA Families and relationships study group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | I presented a paper titled 'Class relationships in nanny and au pair employment: Competitive mothering and privatised childcare' as part of a day on 'Mothering and the New Politics of Parenting'. This was an opportunity to share ideas with people whose research is primarily on families and this is a new audience for me. There was excellent discussion afterwards. Discussions on the day helped shape my thinking. I was also asked for a copy of my talk to go on the conference website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://weekscentreforsocialandpolicyresearch.wordpress.com/events/ |
Description | Berlin conference on migration and education |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | This was a small group but it was attended by two important policy makers who were very engaged with the presentation. The policy makers asked for additional information. The session organisers have now organised a themed section of a journal for papers to be published in. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Breakfast Briefing for policy makers |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A short briefing session to an invited audience - audience were very engaged and showed interest in project and shared expriences. A number of attendees asked for more information and said they would disseminate findings within their organisations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Conference in Istanbul |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Paper presented on Au pairs in the UK market for commoditized in-home care. Discussion aided thinking on the topic and will help with development of published article. Discussion with colleagues from different disciplines influenced our thinking on migration policy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Conference in Toulouse |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Talk sparked useful discussion on the nature of work. Invited to contribute to a journal special issue |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Contribution to documentary 'The Lady Killers' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed for an episode of the documentary series 'The Lady Killers' which was looking at the death of the au pair Sophie Lionnet. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
Description | Critical Care conference Brighton |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Presented a paper jointly authored with Kendra Strauss title 'Critical geographies of care: Regaining the politics of social reproduction'. This was an attempt to examine the theorisation of 'care' and 'social reproduction'. Feedback from the audience was immensely helpful in our development of our ideas. The greatest impact was on our thinking and made us realise that we needed to look further into some of our assumptions. Attendance at the conference was an excellent networking opportunity. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | http://about.brighton.ac.uk/sass/research/conferences/critical-care.php |
Description | End of award dissemination event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Afternoon event to share findings from project with academic and professional audience, excellent discussion and response. Enquiries for information from a number of attendees |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.bbk.ac.uk/bisr/events/bbk-local?uid=ed54372d126e32a70af867477cc00fb9 |
Description | End of award press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | A press release was sent to a number of identified journalists. The story was taken up by The Times, The Guardian, The Evening Standard and Woman's Hour. Guardian Saturday 18 October 2014 p38-9. Story by Zoe Williams, 'Whatever happened to Mary Poppins'. The Times Friday 17 October 2014 p 23. Story by Rosemary Bennett 'Au pairs used as cut-price nannies' Evening Standard 31 October 2014. Story by Joshi Hermann and Phoebe Luckhurst 'it's gone au pair shaped: what life is really like for London's au pairs.' The issue of au pairing not being regulated was debated in newspapers and on twitter etc. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.bbk.ac.uk/news/au-pairing-in-the-uk-2013-an-open-door-to-exploitation |
Description | Family geographies day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A talk at a study day at Brunel University to engage with academics and practitioners around issues of family, health and well being. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.brunel.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/398635/FamilyGeographyflyerJan15.pdf |
Description | Goldsmiths care industry conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A one-day conference attended by c.40 experts from an international field. Extremely interesting discussion, organisers are intending to produce a special issue of a journal from the papers presented. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id=9091 |
Description | Guardian article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to write an article for The Guardian. Cox, R (2018) Think Uber drivers have it bad? Take a look at au pairs. The Guardian 30 August 2018. It was commented on by over 400 people and shared on Facebook by over 600 people. It led to approaches from a number of people in UK and overseas. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/30/au-pairs-servants-legal-rights-government |
Description | Haushaltsmesse Bauhaus Dessau Foundation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I gave a talk as part of the Bauhaus foundation season on 'How do we live in a healthy and economical way'. The event I spoke at was part of the launch of the season and included a wide variety of audiences from all over the world. There is a publication as a result of the event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/haushaltsmesse-20155.html |
Description | Historical Materialism Conference, SOAS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Presented a talk titled 'Reproducing gender inequality at home: the case of the au pair scheme' as part of a panel on paid domestic labour. There was excellent discussion following the papers. The discussion after the talk confirmed some of my ideas about the nature of the UK au pair scheme but also suggested other avenues of investigation and reading. It was an excellent networking opportunity. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | http://www.historicalmaterialism.org/conferences |
Description | IAG Conference Macquarie University, Australia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Paper presented in session on dirt, titled 'Dirt, disgust and loathing: The importance of mess at home', this was in the early months of the project and was an opportunity to think through how my existing work on domestic labour and dirt might relate to the current situation and status of au pairs. The paper sparked very useful discussion and appreciative comments. The talk brought new engagements with peers in Australia. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
URL | http://www.iag.org.au/conferences-events/ |
Description | Interview on Radio 4 Woman's Hour |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Nicky Busch was interviewed on Radio 4's Woman's Hour programme 3/11/14. The interview sparked discussion on line on the Woman's Hour website and on Twitter. A number of people contacted Dr Busch asking about the project and about future possible activities including a possible longer radio programme on Resonance FM and working collaborations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/whnews/whnews_20141103-1423a.mp3 |
Description | Latin American Domestic Workers conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Paper presented at the DIMENSIONES DEL EMPLEO DOMÉSTICO LATINOAMERICANO Conference 16-18th May 2012, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico. Paper was very well attended and sparked very good discussion. I was asked to contribute a chapter to an edited collection on Latin American domestic workers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013 |
Description | Laundry Pile |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was an expert panel discussion as part of a broader event which included an art installation in a laundrette. There were excellent questions and discussions and very good interaction between academics and industry specialists. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Meeting with BAPAA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a small meeting with representatives of the British Au Pair Agencies Association to discuss how we could work together. Arrangements were made for future meetings. Attendees at the meeting agreed to working together in future to try to influence government guidelines on au pairing. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Newcastle, Australia conference on Colonization and Domestic Work |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | This was a specialist conference about paid domestic labour in historical and contemporary contexts. There was excellent discussion throughout the conference, including after our paper and this led to the invitation to contribute a chapter to an edited collection. After the paper I was asked to contribute a chapter to the edited collection 'Colonization and Domestic Work' (forthcoming December 2014). One of the other conference participants also came as a visiting academic to Birkbeck following our discussions at the conference. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Presentation at Lund University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I took part in two events at Lund University, giving a seminar on my own research and talking at a book launch on related research. Following the event I have been asked to write a review of the book that was launched and have been invited to write a book chapter with two colleagues based at Lund. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Presentation at Marketisation of Social Reproduction Conference, Auckland December 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presented a paper at a conference focused on the marketisation of social reproduction. There was a very international audience and plans for future publications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | RGS-IBG Conference, London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | About 40 people attended the session. There was good discussion and question. I was asked to present a similar paper at a later workshop to a more specialist audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Talk at Durham University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | This was a small half day event to interrogate the usefulness of 'marketisation' as a concept. Stimulated my own thinking and also thought more broadly about stimulating research within my own department based on what I saw at Durham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Talk at Purai |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Who will mind the baby after Brexit? Invited talk at Purai: Global Indigenous and Diaspora Research Centre, University of Newcastle, Australia 7 November 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Talk at UCL Department of Geography |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk: "Why are you calling me about dinner? I'm in New York" Everyday geographies of au pairs in London. UCL Department of Geography 27 February 2018. This lead to a number of productive conversations with audience members. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Talk at Zurich University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talk to a postgraduate group, very good discussion with students afterwards and with staff. Good relationship developed with staff as a basis for future collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | The Ambivalent Home workshop, Manchester |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | This was a full day workshop attended by about 25 people. There was very good discussion and sharing of ideas. Sparked discussions with possible new collaborators. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Thinking Allowed |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed for the Radio 4 programme Thinking Allowed about the project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001jpz |
Description | UCL NORFACE conference, London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Paper titled Au pairs within a global political economy of care presented by Nicky Busch. Engaged in discussion with other conference attendees. The conference audience included policy makers and journalists as well as academics. The presentation was press-released by the conference organisers and advertised on the NORFACE website. This led to contact with a range of international scholars. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.norface-migration.org/sites/index.php?site=5&page=1 |
Description | Weimar 'Waste' Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I gave a keynote address at a conference organised by a group of postgraduate students at the Bauhaus University in Weimar. The conference was excellent, sparked great discussion and the organisers are now producing an edited collection from the papers given. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.uni-weimar.de/de/medien/professuren/philosophieavmedien/conference-on-waste/ |