Civil (dis)obedience: Understanding resistance and value in child care

Abstract

Drawing on a feminist materialist framework, this paper explores the resistance of workers in Australian childcare settings to the conditions of their work, and the perceptions of its value in the wider community. I argue that such resistance often goes unrecognised because of the constraints under which it is practiced, as a result of a distinctively gendered and classed workforce. I explore three forms of this resistance-dis-ease, subversion and foot-dragging-and how these represent different responses to the same dilemma, a search for recognition of effort and skills in this work. I conclude by suggesting that this recognition is vital to the wellbeing not just of workers, but to the entire childcare system.