COVID-19 and raising the value of care

Abstract

In this opinion piece, we argue the current pandemic is shining a light on caregiving as critical work that is under-valued and under-paid. We call upon national lawmakers to raise the value of care work. Doing so would also make progress in solving another national crisis: closing the gender wage gap. We explore how the gender wage gap is driven primarily by the fact that men and women sort into different work, with women being over-represented in work where they care for others and in work that allows them to care for their families.