1st Edition
ReValuing Care in Theory, Law and Policy Cycles and Connections
Care is central to life, and yet is all too often undervalued, taken for granted, and hidden from view. This collection of fourteen substantive and highly innovative essays, along with its insightful introduction, seeks to explore the different dimensions of care that shape social, legal and political contexts. It addresses these dimensions in four key ways. First, the contributions expand contemporary theoretical understandings of the value of care, by reflecting upon established conceptual approaches (such as the ‘ethics of care’) and developing new ways of using and understanding this concept. Second, the chapters draw on a wide range of methods, from doctrinal scholarship through ethnographic, empirical and biographical research methodologies. Third, the book enlarges the usual subjects of care research, by expanding its analysis beyond the more typical focus on familial interconnection to include professional care contexts, care by strangers and care for and about animals. Finally, the collection draws on contributions from academics working in Europe and Australia, across law, anthropology, gender studies, politics, psychology and sociology. By highlighting the points of connection and tension between these diverse international and disciplinary perspectives, this book outlines a new and nuanced approach to care, exploring contemporary understandings of care across law, the social sciences and humanities.
1. ReValuing Care: Cycles and Connections, Rosie Harding, Ruth Fletcher & Chris Beasley 2. Negotiating Strangeness on the Abortion Trail, Ruth Fletcher 3. Carrying On by Caring With in the Shadow of a South African HIV/AIDS Global Health Intervention, Abigail Baim-Lance 4. Caring for the Homeless: Westminster City Council and anti-homeless bye-laws, Caroline Hunter 5. Paths to Social Caring: Researchers consider their journeys to activism, Jenny Baker, Margaret Allen & Maureen Dyer 6. Young People who Care for a Family Member with Physical or Mental Health Problems: Can research better reflect the interests of young carers?, Lester Watson 7. Caring at the Borders of the Human: Companion animals and the homeless, Helen Carr 8. Care and Relationality: Supported decision-making under the UN CRPD, Rosie Harding 9. ‘New Fathers’ and the Right to Parental Leave: Is the European Court of Human Rights satisfied with just breadwinning?, Alice Margaria 10. Carers as Legal Subjects, Ann Stewart 11. Towards a ‘Reasonable’ Level of State Support for Care? Constitutionalism, care work and the common good, Olivia Smith 12. Terms of Endearment: Meanings of family in a diverse sample of Australian parents, Clare Bartholomaeus & Damien W. Riggs 13. "It has had quite a lot of reverberations through the family": Reconfiguring relationships through parent with dementia care, Elizabeth Peel 14. "Institutions, they’re very straight. My god I hope I don’t have to go into a care home": Spatial inequalities anticipated by older lesbians and gay men, Sue Westwood 15. Beyond Care and Vocabularies of Altruism: Considering sexuality and older people, Chris Beasley
Biography
Rosie Harding is a Professor of Law and Society at the University of Birmingham, UK.
Ruth Fletcher is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Law at the School of Law, Queen Mary, University of London, UK.
Chris Beasley is Professor of Politics at the School of History and Politics, University of Adelaide, Australia.
