Interweaving Caring and Economics in the Context of Place: Experiences of Northern and Rural Women Caregivers

Abstract

While caregiving in northern, rural and remote communities takes place in the context of conditions unique to smaller communities, caregivers live with social policies that are shaped by urban norms rather than rural realities. In times of economic decline and government cuts rural issues of limited services and infrastructure as well as dependency on a single industry can lead to unemployment, community and family instability, and a decline in health and well-being. During these times caregivers face increased pressure to voluntarily fill the gaps left by service cuts. Research with women caregivers in four communities in northern British Columbia (BC), Canada explores the experiences of caring and the social, geographic, economic and political contexts within which the caregiving occurs. The discourse of economic efficiencies that speaks solely to the monetary value of care is contrasted with the human condition of connectedness and relationships. These two contradictory perspectives are uncovered during interviews with women caregivers and analyzed in the framework of Olena Hankivsky's discussion of an ethic of care.

Keywords:

• Care
• Caregiving
• Gender
• Economic Efficiency
• Rural Communities
• Neo-liberalism
• Canada
• Northern British Columbia

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge and thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for funding the research from which this information is drawn (Grant # 410-2004-1646). Thanks are also due to the women we interviewed for their time and knowledge which were graciously shared with us, and to the communities including many organizations which assisted with the facilitation of the research process.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Heather Peters

Heather Peters is an associate professor in the School of Social Work, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada

Jo-Anne Fiske

Jo-Anne Fiske is Professor of Women's Studies and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Lethbridge

Dawn Hemingway

Dawn Hemingway is Associate Professor and Chair of the University of Northern BC School of Social Work and an adjunct professor in Community Health Sciences and Gender Studies

Anita Vaillancourt

Anita Vaillancourt is a PhD candidate in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto

Christina McLennan

Christina McLennan is a Continuing Sessional Instructor in the Thompson Rivers University School of Social Work and Human Services in Kamloops BC

Barb Keith

Barb Keith is the Clinical Supervisor at Evergreen Addiction Services for Vancouver Coastal Health, as well as a parttime instructor at the University of Northern British Columbia

Anne Burrill

Anne Burrill is a Social Planner with the City of Williams Lake and a Sessional Instructor with the School of Social Work at UNBC