Such situations include actual or threatened sexual advances, extreme physical abuse, emotional blackmail and illegal detention, and bondage servitude. Verbal abuse commonly perpetrated by female employers and older co-workers. This is a gender-sensitive issue because it deals with how women treat other women. Jealousy of the wives is common against younger and good-looking domestics. CDWs suffer total isolation brought about by separation from family and limited days off, if any permitted.
Isolation also implies lack of emotional support, especially during instances of abuse.
In many cases, letters sent to the CDWs are intercepted by employers. The choice of friends may also be dictated by the strictness of employers who usually suspect courtship by outsiders. We find that domestics can easily relate to their fellow domestics. They speak the same language and the Luneta Park gatherings provide an opportunity for them to share experiences. The older domestics take care of the younger ones and as a group they monitor the situation of those who are known to be currently facing difficult circumstances.