In order not to disregard numerous services that are necessary in economic life, the care economy replaces a concept of work that is oriented purely to the gainful economy with an expanded concept of work that encompasses paid and unpaid work. Care work, or care services, then includes all paid and unpaid care and nursing services for children, the sick and the elderly, the associated indirect care services and other support services (cf. Razavi/Staab 2008), but also care services for healthy adults and self-care (cf. Knobloch 2013b: 11). In households, a large part of the care work is performed unpaid, in the other sectors (market, government, non-profit), mostly at low wages and part-time, and often under poor working conditions. Yet care work supports economic and social systems even where it remains invisible.
Care Glossary
Terms for Caring Societies
