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Changing narratives about unpaid Care work and the Economy
Wednesday, 14 July 2021
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Virtual (NY Time)
Link to website
Side Event
Documentation
Make Mothers Matter (MMM)

The pandemic has shown the critical importance of Care. It also exposed the challenges that women, mothers especially, face in juggling paid work and unpaid Care responsibilities, which increased with lockdowns and online schooling.

Feminist economists have long denounced the inequitable distribution of unpaid care work as a root cause of Gender inequalities. Our current economic system, which considers unpaid care work and nature as endless and free commodities, is at the root of raising inequalities, environmental destruction and CC.

The Covid-19 crisis provides a unique opportunity to repurpose our economy, so that it serves the wellbeing of people and our planet, not the other way around.

Bringing about such systemic changes begins by changing narratives and perspectives on both unpaid care work and the economy.

Our objectives:
  • Raise awareness on the multiple benefits of taking a more holistic approach to “work”, i.e. considering both paid and unpaid care work, by recognizing that unpaid care is indispensable work that sustains the economy and develops valuable skills
  • Make the case for a paradigm shift in our economic narrative around Care, so that in budgets, spending in care, education, health and family support, are considered as investments - not as expenses
  • Showcase examples of good policies/practices that can change perspectives and views on unpaid care work and our economy
  • Call on governments and international organisations to seize the opportunity to transform our economy and move from the short-term and exploitative “GDP growth” narrative to the wellbeing economy narrative

    Programme and list of speakers

    Introductions:

  • Anne-Claire de Liedekerke, President, Make Mothers Matter
  • Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

    Moderator

  • Susan Himmelweit, Feminist economist, Emeritus professor of economics for the Open University in the UK, member of the UK Women’s Budget Group Commission for a Gender Equal Economy

    Presentations:

  • Gary Barker, Founder and CEO, Promundo Global
  • Sonia Malaspina, Human Resources Director, Danone SN Italy
  • Anam Parvez, Research Lead in Evidence and Strategic Learning, Oxfam Great Britain
  • Shahra Razavi, Director, ILO Social Protection Department

    Q&A

    • United Nations