Care, austerity and resistance

Abstract

This chapter considers the city as a crucible of resistance and change in the context of a worldwide care deficit, growing dilemmas in care work and global austerity. The chapter explores new forms of paid and unpaid care work including the contract state and managerialised formal care; migrant care; private pay care; ‘personalisation’; the underground care economy; and unpaid care. The chapter also analyses the possibilities cities provide for resistance and concludes by drawing links between social workers and other care workers in terms of the challenges faced and the need for a broad-based care coalition to promote the rights of those receiving and providing care in the context of austerity and a deepening care deficit.