Culture of Bias Against Female Foreign Domestic Workers in Hong Kong: An Analysis on the Relationship Between Media and Policy.

Author: Sophie Tadelis

Field of Study: Social Sciences

Faculty Mentors: William Pavlovich

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between media representation and public policy in perpetuating systemic discrimination against female foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Hong Kong. Through the application of framing theory, intersectionality, and policy myopia frameworks, the research analyzes how Chinese-language media portrayals and restrictive policies create a self-reinforcing cycle of marginalization. The study demonstrates how historical commodification of domestic labor continues to influence contemporary media narratives that dehumanize FDWs while institutional barriers such as the live-in rule and two-week rule exacerbate their vulnerability. These representations not only shape public perception but actively influence policy decisions, creating a cultural feedback loop that normalizes exploitation. The findings reveal how overlapping forms of oppression based on gender, nationality, and socioeconomic status compound to create unique challenges for FDWs, reflecting broader global patterns of migrant worker exploitation. The study concludes with brief recommendations for adaptive, intersectional policy approaches to address these systemic inequalities.