Care Economy: A Necessary Solution

Have you ever stopped to think about how much work it takes to run a household—feeding those who live there, keeping the environment clean, and perhaps directly caring for someone such as a child, an elderly person, or someone who is ill? It requires time, labor, and responsibility. And what about the stories of women who dedicated their lives entirely to their families, then, after divorce, are forced to start over and find ways to earn an income?

When we touch on these points, we are addressing the Care Economy, which refers to the set of activities related to caring for people, including domestic tasks, childcare, eldercare, care for the sick, and other essential activities for social reproduction and people’s well-being. This work can be carried out in the home environment as well as in formal institutions such as daycare centers, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Although care is fundamental to the functioning of society, much of this work is unpaid and not recognized as “real work.” Care responsibilities are unequally distributed and fall disproportionately on women—particularly Black and low-income women.

It was in the late 20th century that the concept began to gain visibility, as feminist movements and academia started questioning the invisibility of domestic and care work.

Historically, care was naturalized as an extension of traditional gender roles, with women seen as “naturally” responsible for these tasks. With industrialization and the massive entry of women into the labor market, the double burden (formal work and unpaid care work) became one of the main challenges women face.

The term “Care Economy” began to be used to describe this portion of the economy that remained invisible in national accounts such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Economists and sociologists like Diane Elson and Nancy Folbre were pioneers in highlighting the need to include care work in economic analysis, arguing that without this invisible labor, the formal economy could not function.

Studies show that women dedicate significantly more time to unpaid care work compared to men. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), women perform over 76% of the world’s total unpaid care work hours—three times more than men.

In Brazil, the 2022 Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD Contínua) revealed that 91% of women perform domestic activities, compared to 79% of men (the number of hours dedicated by each was not specified in the study). Moreover, Black and mixed-race women dedicate, on average, more time to these tasks than white women, showing how care is also intrinsically linked to issues of race and social class.

The inclusion of these activities and recognition of their economic value have been recurring topics in global discussions, such as those promoted by UN Women and other international organizations. These debates highlight the urgent need for public policies that redistribute care work more equitably between men and women.

The Care Economy is a fundamental concept for understanding gender dynamics as well as economic and social inequalities. Recognizing the value of care work and promoting policies that support a fairer distribution of these responsibilities are crucial steps toward building a more equitable and just society.

When seen through the lens of economics, care ceases to be merely an individual responsibility and is understood instead as an essential pillar for sustainable development and social well-being.