Care in sustainable transitions
(2023) Care: An Interdisciplinary Perspective — Location: University of Amsterdam (3.April.2023)
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- (en) CARE: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVE APRIL 3&4 2023 UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM Florence Degavre Care and sustainable transitions: How to enhance the value of essential jobs? Abstract The COVID 19 pandemic has worsened the situation of traditionally devalued caregiving professions but, for a short moment of time, it has also made visible, many of their issues like their low symbolic and financial recognition. The pandemic also elicited -at least initially- the expression of a specific gratitude and solidarity towards the staff of these professions: applause to health professionals, masks donation by volunteer seamstresses, etc., and an awareness of the hard work of staff that is in charge of hygiene in times of crisis. This support echoes the historical expression of attachment to the infrastructures and staff who takes care for people in a vulnerable situation rooted in the part of gender studies that focuses on social reproduction. These works have systematically questioned the logics of de-valorisation of care professions. What makes essential jobs “essential” and why are they not valued at the level of their essential character? This question was also asked at the height of the covid crisis, as if the pandemic had been able - for a time – to (nearly) push the logic of social need ahead of that of the neo-liberal market in establishing the value of care work. The works of modern feminist economics (and authors like Nancy Folbre, Tithi Bhattacharya) can shed some light on this paradox in the level of pay and rights not commensurate with the value of the life preserved. In my communication I will reflect on their contribution to understand the care penalty and discuss solutions to put care work on a more sustainable path.
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Degavre, F. (2023). Care in sustainable transitions. Care: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, University of Amsterdam. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/103458