A feminist vision of care and economic equality

This report develops a feminist vision of care and economic equality, by exploring the interconnections between care and gendered inequalities, particularly in the economic shpere, due to the prevalence of unpaid or low paid care work. Power inequalities at the heart of the care economy - both in Ireland and globally - are examined and the way social investment in care could support a labour intensive industry, which has the potential to attain greater gender equality, more decent jobs, address global regional inequalities and contribute to more sustainable economic development. Care and care provision are central to understanding women's economic inequality and poverty in Ireland and globally. Care work is largely unpaid or low paid, and mainly taken on by women from marginalised sectors in homes, communities and institutional settings. Unpaid care work subsidises every area of the national and global economy. Together with low-paid care, it is at the root of systems of economic exploitation. This paper combines analysis of the global and Irish care models with the lived experiences of women in Ireland (namely home carers; disabled women; Traveller women and lone parents). It makes substantial policy recommendations for Ireland to be a leading voice in recognising the value of care and putting care at the centre of its policies. By actioning these recommendations Ireland will ensure care is rewarded; the burden of unpaid care work on women is reduced; care is redistributed within households, between households and State and between States; and care is reclaimed as a social and public responsibility through properly financed universal quality public services.