Health And Social Care Essay

“To care implies more than simply a passing interest or fancy but instead the acceptance of some form of burden” (Tronto, 1994:103). This essay will discuss if caregivers’ responsibilities and ability to care for children and families creates further inequalities. It will specifically consider working class South African families as this sector makes up the majority of South African families. This essay will consider the historical relevance in shaping families and inequality, the implications of care in contemporary living arrangements, gendered patterns and state involvement in providing care.

Care is a crucial, although seriously overlooked, part of society. Care within families operates as it does “to perpetuate gender, class and racial forces of power and privilege “ (Tronto, 1994:101) through customs and beliefs which has formed traditions within society. Although caring varies largely among different cultures it still represents a universal aspect of human life (Tronto, 1994:110). However, It is difficult to understand the social, moral and political consequences of care due to the devaluation of care as work. Moreover, a distinction between types of care must be noted, ‘caring about’ something or someone recognizes the need for care in a given situation while

In the case of Asian families, Macionis & Plummer, suggests that they hold a value that places family before individual self-interest (2012:631). However, these customs and beliefs, although obviously inequitable, have been repeated through multiple generations and are much more economically stable than ‘extended’ families within a South Africa context. Therefore it can be seen that the difficulties faced by women and families due to the HIV/AIDS severely impacts the ability to provide care and continues to create further