Introduction to gender, development and care

This issue of Gender & Development explores care from a gender perspective. Care is a complex term, meaning both care work, and the emotion which societies throughout the world associate with this work. The Oxford English Dictionary defines care has dual linked meanings as: ‘To feel concern or interest; to attach importance to something; and to look after and provide for the needs of’ (Oxford English Dictionary) Care is central to all human life. It involves a wide range of activities that take place within the home or local community, and contribute to meeting the material and/or developmental, emotional and spiritual needs of one or more other people with whom the carer is in a direct personal relationship, often within the family. Care includes the direct care of people, household work that facilitates caring for people (indirect care) and volunteer community care of people, and paid carers, cleaners, health and education workers. By its very definition, care is interpersonal, has a widespread, long-term, positive impact on wellbeing and development, and is critical to address inequality and vulnerability. Care is a social good; it not only sustains and reproduces society, but also underpins all development progress. Yet the vast majority of care work is done free, at home; and it is widely seen as a female responsibility. This gender division of labour has profound implications for women and girls À“ both in terms of their daily lives and options, and their status in society. As the first quotation above implies, caring is a social obligation which absorbs time and energies, and limits women from playing other roles in economic, social and political life. As such, being stereotyped as carers perpetuates female poverty and gender inequality.

Publisher: Gender & Development,
Year of Publication: 2014