Why is care undervalued and underpaid?

Why is care undervalued and underpaid?

Speakers:

Alison Treacher is a supporter of Socialist Resistance who is a care worker and an activist in Unite the Union; co-organiser of the Carework and Covid19 group)

Rosa Segui is a Labor Attorney from Puerto Rico and is running as a candidate for Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana

Chair: Susan Pashkoff, Socialist Resistance

Sometimes a significant crisis enables us to see things that were conveniently hidden before. Across the world roles traditionally performed by women such as health care and care work, food processing and distribution have been shown to be essential work which keeps our societies functioning.

This meeting will focus on care work as an example of women’s traditional work. It will look at the way the skills needed, including emotional labour, are undervalued because they are seen as an extension of women’s unpaid and ‘natural’ role in the family. It will explore the challenges and opportunities of organising workers in the sector and the implications of this for feminists and the left as a whole.