Plain old disrespect: Explorations of recognition and motivation in care work

Existing mainstream economic models for investigating care work have generated limited insights. In contrast, theory developed outside of mainstream economics, particularly theory that utilises feminist insights, appears contextually relevant to care work but is in a relatively early stage of develo...

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Main Authors: Austen, Siobhan, Jefferson, Therese
Format: Working Paper
Published: Centre for Research in Applied Economics Working Paper Series 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/21783
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author Austen, Siobhan
Jefferson, Therese
author_facet Austen, Siobhan
Jefferson, Therese
author_sort Austen, Siobhan
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Existing mainstream economic models for investigating care work have generated limited insights. In contrast, theory developed outside of mainstream economics, particularly theory that utilises feminist insights, appears contextually relevant to care work but is in a relatively early stage of development for application to empirical analysis. This paper considers appropriate models of care work situations, especially the motives for the performance of care work and the specific role played by ‘recognition’. We outline the experiences and perceptions of mature age Australian women who participated in a small exploratory study. We also report data derived from a subsequent survey of almost 4000 Australian aged care workers. We identify recognition as a factor that, thus far, has not been explicitly considered in the economics literature on the motivation for care work but which has the potential to inform strategies aimed at improving outcomes for care workers and care recipients.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-217832017-01-30T12:27:25Z Plain old disrespect: Explorations of recognition and motivation in care work Austen, Siobhan Jefferson, Therese caring motivations recognition care work aged care Existing mainstream economic models for investigating care work have generated limited insights. In contrast, theory developed outside of mainstream economics, particularly theory that utilises feminist insights, appears contextually relevant to care work but is in a relatively early stage of development for application to empirical analysis. This paper considers appropriate models of care work situations, especially the motives for the performance of care work and the specific role played by ‘recognition’. We outline the experiences and perceptions of mature age Australian women who participated in a small exploratory study. We also report data derived from a subsequent survey of almost 4000 Australian aged care workers. We identify recognition as a factor that, thus far, has not been explicitly considered in the economics literature on the motivation for care work but which has the potential to inform strategies aimed at improving outcomes for care workers and care recipients. 2013 Working Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/21783 Centre for Research in Applied Economics Working Paper Series fulltext
spellingShingle caring motivations
recognition
care work
aged care
Austen, Siobhan
Jefferson, Therese
Plain old disrespect: Explorations of recognition and motivation in care work
title Plain old disrespect: Explorations of recognition and motivation in care work
title_full Plain old disrespect: Explorations of recognition and motivation in care work
title_fullStr Plain old disrespect: Explorations of recognition and motivation in care work
title_full_unstemmed Plain old disrespect: Explorations of recognition and motivation in care work
title_short Plain old disrespect: Explorations of recognition and motivation in care work
title_sort plain old disrespect: explorations of recognition and motivation in care work
topic caring motivations
recognition
care work
aged care
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/21783