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ABSTRACT
This article examines the work identities of undocumented Mexican immigrants in the direct selling industry, an alternative work arrangement in which they selling branded products and recruit others to join them as sales consultants. Drawing on qualitative research with undocumented direct sellers in Philadelphia, this research shows that direct selling pays in meaningful work and new identities, rather than in wages. While existing research documents the importance of hard worker identities for undocumented immigrants coping with structural marginality, undocumented direct sellers believe their work offers autonomy, education, and geographic mobility. Ultimately, multi-level marketing companies profit from undocumented workers’ precarity by promising freedom from work and from the struggles of enduring illegality.
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Acknowledgements
The author gratefully acknowledges the anonymous reviewers, editors, and colleagues (Irene Vega, Rocío Rosales, Glenda Flores, Sylvia Zamora, Melissa Wilde, Shannon Gleeson, and Cristina Mora) for comments that improved the quality of this paper. Special thanks to Doria Hernandez for assistance with data collection.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Direct selling companies represented amongst my interview respondents include: Amway, Herbalife, Market America, Mary Kay, Avon, Omnilife, 4 Life, StanHome, and Forever Living.
2 While undocumented immigrants are not legally allowed to work in the United States, many get around this restriction by presenting invalid work authorisation paperwork. Legally, employers are required to ask for documents and keep a record, they are not required to check if the documents are valid.