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
