Transcending Inequality: A Grounded Theory Study of Filipino Factory Workers in Taiwan

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop a theory of the main concern of Filipino factory workers in Taiwan and the latent pattern of behavior that accounts for its continual resolution. Using classic grounded theory, nine participants were interviewed and the data were analyzed using the constant comparative method of analysis. The theory that emerged from this study was Transcending Inequality, which explains how participants resolve inequality via three overlapping patterns of behavior: coping, bonding, and serving. Although the notion of transcending is paradoxical in that it tends to sidestep the structural causes of inequality, it foregrounds the participants' individual, cultural, social, and spiritual resources. The findings have implications for three areas of practice and policy: (a) local and transnational community life, (b) religious and spiritual practices, and (c) the strength-based approach.