This paper is about the impact and repercussions of the Global Care Chain.
It is not easy to take care of another family while one's own family, just as much, needs a mother, a daughter, or a wife. However, sometimes the circumstances do not leave room for any other option, which is the case for many women worldwide. They find themselves in a so-called "Global Care Chain", a term coined by Arlie Hochschild that is now considered an important analytic category for the worldwide increasing feminisation of migration. There is a grand link between globalisation, care, and migration. The latter has alleviated various labour shortages in the private and public health sectors.
In doing so, uneven dependencies and labor exploitation are accompanied. This concept falls prey to many critics because it reproduces inequalities by redistributing care resources, particularly emotional care labour, from those in poorer countries for consumption by those in richer ones. Regardless of the critique, it is still widely spread because of migrant workers' economic dependency. This paper will provide a deep insight into the concept of the Global Care Chain. It will address the inequalities it is linked to while looking at its impact regarding its social costs and its repercussions on family and children.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Terminology
- 3. The Global Care Chain
- 4. Repercussions
- 5. Calls for Change
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Global Care Chain, exploring its inequalities, social costs, and repercussions on families and children. It examines the concept of care work within a globalized context and analyzes the motivations and consequences of migration for caregiving.
- The definition and complexities of "care" work.
- The mechanics and implications of the Global Care Chain.
- The economic and social costs associated with care migration.
- The impact on families and children left behind.
- The role of the state and potential policy solutions.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by highlighting the complex situation of women worldwide who are forced to participate in the Global Care Chain due to circumstances leaving them with few options. It introduces the concept of the Global Care Chain, coined by Arlie Hochschild, emphasizing its connection to globalization, migration, and the feminization of migration. The chapter establishes the paper's focus on understanding the inequalities, social costs, and family repercussions associated with this phenomenon. The introduction establishes the significant link between globalization, care, and migration, acknowledging both the alleviation of labor shortages and the simultaneous creation of uneven dependencies and labor exploitation. It prepares the reader for a deeper examination of the Global Care Chain's complexities and its impact on various aspects of life.
2. Terminology: This chapter defines key terms central to understanding the Global Care Chain. It elaborates on the multifaceted concept of "care," encompassing tasks and activities ranging from highly intimate personal care to less intimate household chores. The chapter highlights how care work, particularly within the context of global migration, becomes a commodity unequally distributed across class lines. It emphasizes the coercion and limitations faced by women who migrate for caregiving work, often leaving their own families behind due to economic pressures. The chapter also discusses the undervaluation of care work compared to wage labor, emphasizing the need to recognize its practical significance in reducing workloads, particularly in wealthier countries. The chapter stresses the distinction between unpaid care within families and the often-inadequate pay received by migrant care workers.
3. The Global Care Chain: This chapter delves into the concept of the Global Care Chain, a term coined by Arlie Hochschild, which describes the arrangement where women from poorer countries leave their families to care for the children or elderly in wealthier families. It details the common difficulties women face, such as the inability to fulfill their own domestic duties due to geographical distance from their children and families. The chapter describes how this system creates a series of personal links based on paid or unpaid caring work, highlighting those caught at the bottom of the chain. The chapter discusses the significant increase in demand for care workers in industrialized states and the reasons behind it, including changing trends in women's employment, the decrease in availability of unpaid domestic care work, and criticisms of state involvement in care provision.
4. Repercussions: This chapter explores the motivations behind women's migration for care work, primarily the pursuit of better-paid opportunities in countries lacking sufficient social infrastructure. While acknowledging the potential economic benefits for migrants and their families, it focuses on the significant costs and repercussions resulting from this migration. It contrasts the "care gain" in receiving countries with the "care drain" in sending countries, highlighting the negative consequences of exporting care work and skilled labor from developing nations. The chapter underscores the often-overlooked care deficit in the countries of origin, emphasizing the social and economic imbalances generated by the Global Care Chain.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Global Care Chain, care work, migration, feminization of migration, inequalities, social costs, family repercussions, care drain, care deficit, migrant workers, economic dependency, social infrastructure, unpaid labor, wage labor.
Frequently Asked Questions: Global Care Chain Analysis
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the Global Care Chain, analyzing its complexities, inequalities, social costs, and repercussions on families and children. It explores the concept of care work within a globalized context, examining the motivations and consequences of migration for caregiving.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
Key themes include the definition and complexities of "care" work; the mechanics and implications of the Global Care Chain; the economic and social costs associated with care migration; the impact on families and children left behind; and the role of the state and potential policy solutions.
What is the Global Care Chain?
The Global Care Chain, a term coined by Arlie Hochschild, describes the system where women from poorer countries migrate to wealthier countries to provide care services (childcare, eldercare, etc.) to families in those wealthier nations. This often involves leaving their own families behind.
What are the chapter summaries?
The document includes summaries for each chapter: Chapter 1 introduces the concept of the Global Care Chain and its connection to globalization and migration; Chapter 2 defines key terminology related to care work and its commodification; Chapter 3 delves deeper into the mechanics of the Global Care Chain and the challenges faced by migrant care workers; and Chapter 4 explores the repercussions of the Global Care Chain, focusing on the "care drain" in sending countries and the "care gain" in receiving countries.
What are the economic and social costs associated with the Global Care Chain?
The economic and social costs are significant and include the undervaluation of care work, exploitation of migrant workers, the creation of a care deficit in sending countries (where families lack adequate care), and the negative impacts on families separated by migration. The document highlights the uneven distribution of care work and its implications.
Who are the primary actors involved in the Global Care Chain?
The primary actors are women from poorer countries who migrate for caregiving work, the families in wealthier countries who receive care, and the sending and receiving states whose policies shape the migration flows and support systems.
What are the potential policy solutions or areas for future research suggested or implied?
While not explicitly stated as solutions, the document highlights the need for policies to address the inequalities, exploitation, and social costs associated with the Global Care Chain. This implies a need for improved worker protections, fair wages, support systems for families left behind, and potentially better state-sponsored care systems in both sending and receiving countries. The need for further research on the complex societal impacts is implied.
What are the key terms used in this analysis of the Global Care Chain?
Key terms include: Global Care Chain, care work, migration, feminization of migration, inequalities, social costs, family repercussions, care drain, care deficit, migrant workers, economic dependency, social infrastructure, unpaid labor, and wage labor.
What is the overall conclusion or takeaway message of this document?
The document aims to raise awareness of the complexities and inequalities inherent in the Global Care Chain, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of the social, economic, and familial repercussions associated with this global phenomenon.
- Quote paper
- Cerin Saado (Author), 2022, The Impact and Repercussions of the Global Care Chain, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1215777
