Read on Twitter
My last tweet in 2019
Little did I know a global pandemic was around the corner that would give unprecedented visibility to the centrality of care work. Visibility has not reduced devaluation but it has heightened tensions/contradictions and brought new language to fight it
1/n https://twitter.com/pilargonalons/status/1212064617842667520
Little did I know a global pandemic was around the corner that would give unprecedented visibility to the centrality of care work. Visibility has not reduced devaluation but it has heightened tensions/contradictions and brought new language to fight it1/n https://twitter.com/pilargonalons/status/1212064617842667520
Devaluation is that millions of nursing and home care workers (disproportionately women of color) taking care of the most vulnerable during this pandemic are paid $7/hour https://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/economy/news/2020/09/03/178589/essential-work-disposable-workers-home-care-workers-need-labor-protections/
Devaluation is that millions of childcare workers (disproportionately women of color) keeping children thriving every day are facing job loss and bankruptcy because no public support has been offered to them https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/21432940/child-care-bailout-covid-economy-work-parents-great-rebuild
Devaluation is that millions domestic workers (disproportionately migrant women) keeping homes clean and caring for children and adults face huge job loss rates and are often excluded from the little social safety net available (unemployment, checks) https://msmagazine.com/2020/10/29/no-relief-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-domestic-workers/
Devaluation is that millions of parents (disproportionately women) have lost income (and personal health and sanity) due to the impossibility of keeping a full-time job while caring for children at home https://annehelen.substack.com/p/other-countries-have-social-safety
Ignoring and underpaying care work, taking for granted that women, in particular women of color, will shoulder the burden, is beneficial and profitable for men, white upper-middle class women, business, and governments. See social reproduction theory: https://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/social-reproduction-and-the-pandemic-with-tithi-bhattacharya
Policy talk on care work has moved left but not nearly enough. Paid leave and increased public funding for some childcare is great but it just tinkers the edges.
A much bigger and wholistic shift is needed to build egalitarian and democratic care infrastructure that guarantees that both care workers and those who need care can thrive. (Including getting rid of gender norms that assign care work to women). https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/household-domestic-labor-essential-workers-gender-gap-coronavirus-20200511.html%3FoutputType%3Damp
One of my 2021 resolutions: follow and support struggles led by care workers and centering care work, and contribute to build the momentum for a care-centered economy. Gtfo 2020, happy NY all 
