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‘There You Enjoy Life, Here You Work’: Brazilian and Dominican Immigrants’ Views on Work and Health in the U.S

Author

Listed:
  • Cristina Araujo Brinkerhoff

    (School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

  • C. Eduardo Siqueira

    (Department of Environment and Public Health, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA)

  • Rosalyn Negrón

    (Anthropology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA)

  • Natalicia Tracy

    (Brazilian Worker Center, Boston, MA 02134, USA)

  • Magalis Troncoso Lama

    (Dominican Development Center, Boston, MA 02130, USA)

  • Linda Sprague Martinez

    (School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

Abstract

Structural inequalities in the U.S. work environment place most immigrants in low paying, high-risk jobs. Understanding how work experiences and influence the health of different immigrant populations is essential to address disparities. This article explores how Brazilian and Dominican immigrants feel about their experiences working in the U.S. and how the relationship between work and culture might impact their health. In partnership with the Dominican Development Center and the Brazilian Worker Center, we held five cultural conversations (CCs) with Brazilians ( n = 48) and five with Dominicans ( n = 40). CCs are participatory, unstructured groups facilitated by representatives from or embedded in the community. Brazilian immigrants focused on physical health and the American Dream while Dominicans immigrants emphasized concerns about the influence of work on mental health. Dominicans’ longer tenure in the U.S. and differences in how Brazilians and Dominicans are racialized in the region might account for the variation in perspectives between groups. Future studies should further investigate the relationship between health and how immigrants’ work lives are shaped by culture, race and immigrant status.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina Araujo Brinkerhoff & C. Eduardo Siqueira & Rosalyn Negrón & Natalicia Tracy & Magalis Troncoso Lama & Linda Sprague Martinez, 2019. "‘There You Enjoy Life, Here You Work’: Brazilian and Dominican Immigrants’ Views on Work and Health in the U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:4025-:d:278661
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bindu Panikkar & Doug Brugge & David M Gute & Raymond R Hyatt, 2015. "“They See Us As Machines:” The Experience of Recent Immigrant Women in the Low Wage Informal Labor Sector," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Minkler, M. & Salvatore, A.L. & Chang, C. & Gaydos, M. & Liu, S.S. & Lee, P.T. & Tom, A. & Bhatia, R. & Krause, N., 2014. "Wage theft as a neglected public health problem: An overview and case study from san francisco's chinatown district," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(6), pages 1010-1020.
    3. Gute, D.M. & Siqueira, E. & Goldberg, J.S. & Galvão, H. & Chianelli, M. & Pirie, A., 2009. "The Vida Verde Women's Co-Op: Brazilian immigrants organizing to promote environmental and social justice," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99, pages 495-498.
    4. Landsbergis, P.A. & Choi, B. & Dobson, M. & Sembajwe, G. & Slatin, C. & Delp, L. & Siqueira, C.E. & Schnall, P. & Baron, S., 2018. "The key role of work in population health inequities," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 108(3), pages 296-297.
    5. Quach, T. & Gunier, R. & Tran, A. & Von Behren, J. & Doan-Billings, P.-A. & Nguyen, K.-D. & Okahara, L. & Lui, B.Y.-B. & Nguyen, M. & Huynh, J. & Reynolds, P., 2011. "Characterizing workplace exposures in Vietnamese women working in California nail salons," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(SUPPL. 1), pages 271-276.
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