Session Information
99 ERC SES 08 B, Education in an Age of Uncertainty
Paper Session
Contribution
This paper delves into the discourse surrounding the crisis of care, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, and seeks alternative perspectives that expose the shortcomings of neoliberal capitalism. The focus on the inhumanity and criminality of such a system (Saad-Filho, 2020) is heightened in the context of the pandemic, considered "the worst global crisis since World War II" (ILO, 2020: p. 2). The paper argues that amidst crises such as wars, conflicts, climate change, and economic downturns, there is an opportunity to envision a society that serves the majority and avoids repeating suffering and disgraceful outcomes.
The primary objective is to explore feminist, political economy, and post-human theoretical approaches to the 21st-century crisis and its connection to the crisis of care. Care, as emphasized by Fisher and Tronto (1990), is portrayed as a fundamental aspect of our lives, essential for maintaining, continuing, and repairing our world. Given the current global crisis characterized by pandemics, climate crises, social inequality, and economic troubles, the significance of care becomes more pronounced, leading to a specific focus on the crisis of care.
From feminist discussions about contradictions related to care within social reproduction, Nancy Fraser, a prominent social reproduction theorist, contends that while social reproduction is essential for sustained capital accumulation, capitalism's relentless pursuit of unlimited growth has the potential to destabilize the very processes of social reproduction on which it relies (Fraser, 2016, p.100). In the realm of social reproduction, significant contributions have been made by feminist scholars such as Bhattacharya (2015; 2017) and Fraser (2016). It is argued that social reproduction, involving the production of life, plays a central role in the accumulation of capital. Moreover, by incorporating feminist critiques, some scholars also criticize the gendered aspect of care in organizing and advocate for a 'care revolution' (Winker, 2015; 2020; Habermann, 2009; 2016) that confronts the crisis of social reproduction.
In light of the devaluation and extensive commodification of care, there has been a consequential emergence of fractured care cycles, leading to distinct separations among caring-about, taking-care-of, care-giving, care-receiving, and even caring-with (Tronto, 1993, 2009). This fragmentation underscores the complex nature of contemporary care dynamics. Recently, there has been a surge in feminist researchers and social movements advocating for a "Care Revolution" (Winker 2015; 2021; Habermann 2009; 2016). Regional networks have formed, bringing together groups and individuals from diverse fields of care, collectively confronting the crisis of social reproduction. The vision behind the "care revolution" is to steer society away from profit-driven orientations towards a focus on genuine needs. Advocating for fundamental changes, the movement calls for a deeper exploration of political economy and formulates a utopian vision emphasizing the participation of all and (self)care for all (Brückner 2016). Communities engaged in these efforts envision, reimagine, and reorganize care issues through joint initiatives. The concept of commons is integral to this transformation, expanding the understanding of care beyond traditional caregiving services for specific demographics. Care is viewed broadly as caring for each other, demonstrating concern and interest in the community as a whole. The issue of care is deliberately positioned at the heart of commons and commoning (Helfrich & Bollier 2020; Habermann 2009; 2016). By starting from people's own needs and envisioning care beyond the confines of the neoliberal capitalist system, commoning serves as a means to showcase "other possible" care practices. This approach recognizes that needs are the starting points for reproduction commoning, fostering community building not based on identity or status but on shared material and life conditions (Zechner, 2021, p.35).
Method
This paper focuses on the organizational practices of women's cooperatives in "re-imagining" and re-inventing care, with the primary aim of answering the question, "How and to what extent do women's cooperatives reimagine and reorganize care?" During the empirical data collection process, semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted with 23 members from 19 women's cooperatives in Izmir between August and September 2020. The data collection was originally undertaken within the scope of my master's thesis, designed to address a different research question. However, I now aim to reexamine the organizational practices of women's cooperatives, focusing specifically on their experiences with care. A qualitative research approach was employed to explore and comprehend potential patterns in the given theme. In the analysis phase, a narrative approach was utilized. The current study involves revisiting and re-analyzing the collected data to extract new insights and perspectives.
Expected Outcomes
The paper concludes by raising critical questions regarding the practical implementation of reimagining and reorganizing care. It explores whether these transformations manifest as tangible strategies and provides examples of collective self-organization, thereby evolving into a practice for the future. The inquiry extends to the generalizability of these examples into a broader political strategy of commoning, questioning whether they embody the essence of commoning as a revolutionary "realpolitics." The concept of transformation, envisioned as a series of contested steps, involves the formation of collective organizing of commoning at local and regional levels, constituting a societal practice of commoning from the grassroots. Commoning, as a transformative concept, prompts a reconsideration of our relationships with nature and non-human entities. This reevaluation challenges prevailing extractive capitalist systems, striving for the collective establishment of a shared identity. Drawing from scholars like Federici (2019) and Moore (2018), the paper emphasizes that commoning practices are not merely freely accessible resources but methods of producing and managing shared resources. Moore further characterizes commoning as a practice centered on cultivating and caring for the relationships intertwined with the production of shared resources (Moore, 2018:18; 16). The conclusion underscores the importance of the commoning perspective as a dynamic and participatory approach that transcends conventional notions of resource accessibility, advocating for a paradigm shift in societal practices towards shared responsibility and collective well-being. Basis on the emprical finding, I intend to demonstrate how women's cooperatives engage in caring for their members, other women’s co-ops/their network, the local community, and the planet to connect with real-life politics.
References
Bhattacharya, T. (2015) How not to skip class: social reproduction of labor and the global working class, Viewpoint, 31 October, https://viewpointmag.com/2015/10/31/how-not-to-skip-class-social-reproduction-of-labor-and-the-global-working-class/. Bhattacharya, T. (ed) (2017) Social Reproduction Theory: Remapping Class, Recentering Oppression, London: Pluto. Brückner, M. (2016). Rezension: Gabriele Winker: Care-Revolution. Schritte in eine solidarische Gesellschaft [Rezension des Buches], Femina Politica – Zeitschrift für feministische Politikwissenschaft, 25(1), S. 191-193. (abgelegt) Fisher, B., & Tronto, J. (1990). Towards a Feminist Theory of Care. In E. E. Abel & M. Nelson (Eds.), Circles of Care. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. Fraser, N. (2016). Contradictions of Capital and Care. New Left Review, 100, 99-117 Habermann, F. (2009): Halbinseln gegen den Strom: Anders Leben und Wirtschaften im Alltag. Ulrike Helmer Verlag. Habermann, F. (2016): Ecommony. UmCARE zum Miteinander, Ulrike Helmer Verlag. Helfrich, S. &. Bollier, D. (2020): Frei, Fair & Lebendig. Bielefeld: transcript. Helfrich, S.; Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (Eds.) (2012): Commons. Für eine neue Politik jenseits von Markt und Staat. Bielefeld: transcript. ILO. (2020). ILO Monitor : COVID-19 and the world of work 2 nd edition: updated estimates and analysis. Moore, S. (2018) The “Care-full” Commons: Open Access and the Care of Commoning. In Deville, J., Moore, S., and Nadim, T. (eds), The Commons and Care, Coventry, Post Office Press and Rope Press. Saad-Filho, A. (2021). Endgame: from crisis in neoliberalism to crises of neoliberalism. Human Geography, 14(1), 133–137. https://doi.org/10.1177/1942778620962026 Winker, G. (2015): Care Revolution. Schritte in eine solidarische Gesellschaft. s.l.: transcript Verlag (X-Texte zu Kultur und Gesellschaft). Winker, G. (2020). Aufbau einer solidarischen und nachhaltigen Care Ökonomie. Ein Plädoyer in Zeiten von Corona. In M. Volkmer & K. Werner (Hrsg.), Die Corona-Gesellschaft, Analysen zur Lage und Perspektiven für die Zukunft. Bielefeld transcript. Winker, G. (2021): Solidarische Care-Ökonomie. Bielefeld: transcript Verlag Zechner, M. (2021) Commoning Care & Collective Power: Childcare Commons and the Micropolitics of Municipalism in Barcelona. Vienna: Transversal Texts
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