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Self-surveillance practices of factory women migrant workers receiving SRH interventions in Malaysia: The effects of salience, gendered subjectivity and universalism

Author

Listed:
  • Tim Freeman

    (Department of Strategy, Leadership and Organisation, Middlesex University Business School, Middlesex University, UK)

  • Lilian Miles

    (School of Organisations, Economy and Society, Westminster Business School, University of Westminster, UK)

  • Kelvin Ying

    (School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia)

Abstract

Managing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs remains a challenge for many women migrant workers in developing countries. Nonetheless, the extent to which they can be supported in meeting these needs remains underexplored, with implications for worker health and working life. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 25 factory women migrant workers in Penang, Malaysia, this article applies a Foucauldian lens of governmentality to explore directly their agency in managing their SRH. The authors consider the self-surveillance practices the women adopt in response to a programme of SRH interventions. The findings reveal varied degrees of compliance with programme expectations. The article demonstrates empirically the importance of the perceived salience of SRH as a motivating force in self-surveillance practices, drawing out the disempowering effects of self-consciousness and shame in gendered subjectivity. The authors further consider the impact of universalist prescriptions for SRH within locales in the developing world, and the implications for SRH interventions with factory women migrant workers in such settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Tim Freeman & Lilian Miles & Kelvin Ying, 2025. "Self-surveillance practices of factory women migrant workers receiving SRH interventions in Malaysia: The effects of salience, gendered subjectivity and universalism," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 46(1), pages 177-198, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:46:y:2025:i:1:p:177-198
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X231225098
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Josephine Agu & Roanna Lobo & Gemma Crawford & Bethwyn Chigwada, 2016. "Migrant Sexual Health Help-Seeking and Experiences of Stigmatization and Discrimination in Perth, Western Australia: Exploring Barriers and Enablers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-22, May.
    2. Smith-Oka, Vania, 2009. "Unintended consequences: Exploring the tensions between development programs and indigenous women in Mexico in the context of reproductive health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(11), pages 2069-2077, June.
    3. Lilian Miles & Tim Freeman & Lai Wan Teng & Suziana Mat Yasin & Kelvin Ying, 2022. "Empowerment as a pre-requisite to managing and influencing health in the workplace: The sexual and reproductive health needs of factory women migrant workers in Malaysia," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 43(4), pages 1676-1698, November.
    4. Cooper, Christine, 2015. "Entrepreneurs of the self: The development of management control since 1976," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 14-24.
    5. Toan Ha & David Givens & Hui Shi & Trang Nguyen & Nam Nguyen & Roman Shrestha & Linda Frank & Stephen L. Schensul, 2023. "Assessing Barriers and Utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among Female Migrant Workers in Vietnam," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-11, July.
    6. Tharani Loganathan & Deng Rui & Chiu-Wan Ng & Nicola Suyin Pocock, 2019. "Breaking down the barriers: Understanding migrant workers’ access to healthcare in Malaysia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, July.
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