OPINION: MayDay: The burden of unpaid care work on women
Unpaid care work refers to domestic and physical care work generally done in the running of a household or care of a family. This includes meal preparation, cleaning of the home, laundry, collecting water and firewood; as well as physically caring for the elderly, the young and the frail within the community and home.
The impact of non-recognition and the devaluation of women’s unpaid care work leaves women in a deeper position of vulnerability and poverty. Solidarity can therefore be found in the recognition and reduction of unpaid care work - in both developed as well as developing countries. It is important to recognise the role that patriarchy and discrimination plays in how women are viewed, their contribution to the household, the economic value that their work holds and all the stereotypes that are present within our communities.
In respect of women’s access to health care we must recognise the duty to care for those who do the work. Too often women’s health care and access ignore the burden of unpaid care work within the context of home and community. In South Africa we have placed an enormous burden on community health care workers to address the gaps in our health care system when dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. These women are at the front line of performing care work without recognition and proper remuneration.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
#MayDay: City of Joburg to insource more security guards | IOL NewsJoburg mayor Herman Mashaba will mark May Day by welcoming almost 1 000 security guards insourced by the City of Johannesburg.
Read more »
WATCH: Cosatu marches against crime in Western Cape on #MayDay | IOL NewsCosatu Western Cape took to the streets to protest against rampant crime ahead of their May Day rally in Athlone.
Read more »
North Korea issued $2m bill for comatose Otto Warmbier's care | IOL NewsNorth Korea issued a $2 million bill for the hospital care of comatose American Otto Warmbier.
Read more »
Woman held for murder after reporting niece's alleged suicide | IOL NewsA Pretoria woman was arrested for murder shortly after she arrived at the Sunnyside police station to report that her niece, ...
Read more »
Woman tells of child porn shock | IOL NewsA woman was left shocked and horrified after she inserted a memory card she picked up into her cellphone only to discover ...
Read more »
Woman wakes up after spending nearly 3 decades in a coma | IOL NewsA woman from the Emirates whose apparent awakening from a 27-year-long stupor has grabbed international headlines is a rare but not unique case.
Read more »
Woman fatally shot in Randburg home invasion | IOL NewsA woman was fatally wounded and a man was critically wounded during a home invasion in Randburg, Netcare 911 paramedics said.
Read more »
Woman nabbed at Beitbridge border post trying to smuggle explosives into SA | IOL NewsPolice at the Beitbridge border post in Limpopo have arrested a woman for allegedly trying to smuggle 200 units of Superpower ...
Read more »
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka receives prestigious women's rights award | IOL NewsFormer South African deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has been named the recipient of the 2019 Cannes LionHeart award, UN Women said.
Read more »
Star-struck woman fleeced by conman posing as Jason Statham | IOL NewsA scammer duped a grieving British woman out of hundreds of thousands of pounds by posing as 'Trainspotting' star Jason Statham.
Read more »
Friend arrested for assault after missing PE woman found | IOL NewsA missing Port Elizabeth woman has been found severely assaulted allegedly by her friend at a lodge in Frank Street, Newton ...
Read more »