To care or not to care a narrative on experiencing caring responsibilities

ABSTRACT

This paper explores caring responsibilities in everyday life by a thorough investigation of the lived experience of one woman, called Eva. We reflect on Eva's relational experiences in taking care of her own life and in relating to situations and events which more or less are the result of the relational web in which she is situated. Her narrative shows that for her, caring requires a relationship in which moral intimacy can be experienced. Therefore, caring responsibilities rather inflict ambiguous personal struggling about reciprocity, vulnerability and openness in her relationships than about tension between care for herself and care for the other. Developments in our social and healthcare systems which result in transfer of caring responsibilities towards citizens, require the rethinking of concepts of responsibility, care and relationality. Empirical data concerning everyday life may contribute to a better understanding of the complex and dynamic process of personal and particular interpretations of caring responsibilities.

KEYWORDS:

• Moral philosophy
• ethics of care
• caring responsibilities
• social and healthcare system
• narrative

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Karin van der Heijden, MA, is a graduate at the University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, the Netherlands and a researcher and teacher at Saxion, University of Applied Sciences, Enschede, The Netherlands. In her empirical ethical study she traces philosophical and care ethical concepts in individual narratives.

Merel Visse, PhD, works as assistant professor and senior researcher and Chair, Ethics of Care at the University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Gerty Lensvelt-Mulders, PhD, is a professor of Epistomology, Methodology and Research Principles and Rector of the University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Guy Widdershoven, PhD, is a professor of medical philosophy and ethics and Head of the Department of Medical Humanities of the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.