Dear Colleague,

Care for the young, the elderly, the sick, and those with disabilities is the essential glue that binds together families and, ultimately, society.  However, the issue of "unpaid care work" is also the subject of UN policies, which call for its redistribution—not only between men and women in the home, but also from the family to the state.

No policy on unpaid care work is family-neutral, and feminist activists at the UN have a long history of trying to redefine the family and portray it as an oppressive institution.  This Definitions article examines how the UN looks at care work and some ways that this essential work and those who do it can be recognized and supported without radically micromanaging the institution of the family.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Oas, Ph.D.
Director of Research

Care for others, especially children, the elderly, the disabled, and those who are sick or injured, is an essential part of familial and societal life. All persons, at various points in their lives, experience dependency, and much of the work of care takes place in an informal, unpaid context. The fact that the majority of such work is done by women is seen by feminists, including those who work in the context of the United Nations, as inherently problematic. They call for the redistribution of care within the home and for more women to work in the formal economy as a way to achieve gender equality. However, the solutions they present are in many ways worse than the “problem” they seek to solve. This Definitions examines the treatment of care within the UN system and considers whether the policy prescriptions it promotes would actually improve the status of women in society and in the family. Read more >>>