The Sexuality Of Filipina Maids In Lebanon

A rare and interesting (if lengthy) study on the Lebanese relationship with Filipina migrant workers:

The perceived sexuality of Filipina women in Lebanon is double-sided: on the one hand, the Filipina live-in maid is seen as an asexual binit (girl) who must be protected in order to guard the family honor; on the other hand, she is seen as a threatening sharmuta (whore). The binit can become a sharmuta at any moment and bring chaos to the home if the madame’s control over the live-in Filipina maid is lessened and the latter gets corrupted by the outside world. For this reason, many Lebanese madames are reluctant to let Filipina maids outside of the home alone

Why the focus on Filipinas?

Filipina women, compared to their Ethiopian and Sri Lankan counterparts, are seen as fairer, sexually more attractive, and promiscuous. These images of Filipina women legitimate employers’ tight control of their bodies and persons.

Just in case you’ve been wondering why some families lock the doors on their maids when they leave home.. (an abhorrent practice which causes them to die in an event of fire or earthquakes)