Emotional labor, conflicting caregiving responsibilities and resilience among foreign female caregivers in Japan: A photovoice study
通过光声法和访谈，研究日本外籍女性护理员的情感劳动、照护责任冲突与韧性，揭示歧视、孤独和情感负担等挑战，对关注移民劳工和老龄化政策的研究者有用。
Abstract Prompted by Japan's aging population and the growing demand for migrant female caregivers, this study employs a participatory action research method—photovoice ( N = 11) and interviews ( N = 9) to investigate the emotional labor, conflicting caregiving responsibilities, and resilience among foreign female caregivers in Japan. A total of 47 photographs and nine interviews were gathered, revealing three main themes with several sub‐themes, such as discrimination, loneliness, ergonomic challenges, and emotional burden. The findings shed light on the stigmatization faced by foreign female caregivers in Japan, who are often perceived as inadequately qualified for their roles. It particularly emphasizes the difficulties they face in balancing their caregiving duties in Japan with the inability to care for their own families back home. Additionally, Japan's stringent immigration policies, patriarchal social structure and the experiences of discrimination further complicate their situation. We recommend that policies and programs focus on improving working conditions (such as reducing workload and increasing wages), supporting family unity, and providing greater flexibility for social integration among migrant caregivers.