Oral history and farmworker studies

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-08-2016-0033
• Published date: 05 March 2018
• Pages: 30-40
• Date: 05 March 2018
• Author: Jonathan Hagood,Clara Schriemer
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Inequalities & diverse/minority groups,Sociology,Race & ethnic studies,Minorities,Multiculturalism,Racial identity,Work, economy & organizations,Labour movements

Oral history and farmworker studies

Jonathan Hagood and Clara Schriemer

Abstract

Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore three sociocultural themes common to migrant and

seasonal farmworkers and to demonstrate the value of incorporating oral history into healthcare practice and

quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research programs, as oral history is a culturally sensitive

approach to working with vulnerable populations.

Design/methodology/approach –This paper examines 17 oral histories from farmworkers residing in

Ottawa County, Michigan, in the late summer of 2014. The theoretical framework section has two aims.

First, it explains the significance of “cultural sensitivity”and “deep structure”to the practice of effective

healthcare. Second, it introduces oral history as a form of deep structure cultural sensitivity.

Findings –Three themes emerge from the collected oral histories: stress/anxiety of undocumented status,

honor/worth of honest work, and the importance of educating migrant children. Undocumented status is

found to be the hub of farmworker health inequities while worth of work and education are described as

culturally sensitive points of conversation for healthcare workers engaging with this population. Finally,

oral history is found to be a useful method for establishing the deep structure of cultural sensitivity.

Originality/value –This paper gives a voice to farmworkers, an inconspicuous population that

disproportionately suffers from health inequities. In addition, this paper acts as a case study promoting the

use of oral history as a novel, culturally sensitive research method.

Keywords Oral history, Migrant, Cultural competence, Cultural sensitivity, Farmworkers

Paper type Research paper

Prologue

We turn off onto a dirt road and the dust makes clouds around our car. After delivering

prescriptions to clinic patients living in the simple, cement-block farmworker housing, we make

our way down the row of houses, meet Mateo Garcia and ask him if he would like to share his

story with us. Mateo eagerly agrees. We set up the video camera on the tripod and arrange

ourselves so that we face Mateo at a slight angle. Mateo is short and in his mid-40s. He wears a

plain white T-shirt and jeans. Originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, Mateo came to the USA when he

was 17. For the past 24 years, he has migrated between Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan,

laboring in the fields when there is work and hibernating in Florida during the off-season.

“I’ve neverbeen in one place, neverhad a stable job,”he shares. Though he states that, “thelife of a

migrant is not easy,”Mateo finds worth in his labor: “It is my profession to work in agriculture.”

Mateo migrates with his twodaughters, three sons, andwife. Because his eldestdaughter is older

than 12, she works in the fields during the summer months: “We need to takeadvantage of the job

because this is what we can afford.”When there is not a lot of work,Mateo worries about how he

will take care of his family and get back to Florida. He reports that it is hard for his family to live with

the laws the way they are. They do not have documents, so he is often anxious when theytravel.

Mateo wishesthat he could rest and relaxinstead of worrying aboutthe laws. As our conversation

ends, Mateo says that it is nice to just talk about what life is like, and he thanks us for listening to him.

Introduction

There are two general channels for documented immigration into the USA: employment-based

and family-based. Employment-based immigration opportunities are limited to skilled and

educated workers sponsored by an employer. Family-based immigration opportunities are

Received 19 August 2016

Revised 5 January 2017

Accepted 16 March 2017

Research support was provided by

Hope College’s Andrew W. Mellon

Foundation Scholars Program in

the Arts and Humanities.

Jonathan Hagood is an

Associate Professor at the

History Department, Hope

College, Holland, Michigan, USA.

Clara Schriemer is based at

Hope College, Holland,

Michigan, USA.

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VOL. 14 NO. 1 2018, pp.30-40, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1747-9894 DOI 10.1108/IJMHSC-08-2016-0033