Care trends in private households: redistribute or outsource? 

This project investigates care arrangements with paid service providers and the policy and institutional framework conditions for care of persons in private households. The goal is to be able to assess consequences for gender equality.  

Background
Despite numerous measures for gender equality, unpaid housework and care work in Switzerland are unequally distributed, with women taking on a larger share than men. What is more, women are mainly employed part-time, and they have to do this housework and care work alongside their paid work hours. In contrast, men continue to work mostly full-time. In spite of women’s double burden, a care deficit remains that calls for a (re)organisation of care work.

Aim
Studies in other countries show that care is being outsourced to service providers, mainly women immigrants, usually doing domestic work. This is particularly the case where public care services are few and far between or too expensive. Although estimates indicate that this trend may also be present in Switzerland, there is a lack of systematic knowledge. It is also unknown how this affects gender equality processes.
This study aims to:

1. Acquire knowledge of different forms of private care arrangements with foreign service providers
2. Identify relevant policy framework conditions that influence these privately paid for care arrangements
3. Explore the gender equality consequences of the policy framework conditions and the care arrangements

The project will use the following methods:

1. Thirty narrative interviews with employers and employees in private households
2. Policy field analyses and group discussions with experts
3. Analysis of the connection between the policy framework conditions and the care arrangements

Significance
The project findings will result in a catalogue of measures concerning care work as the basis for realisation of a successful gender equality policy.

Original title: “Private Care”-Arrangements in der Schweiz – eine Herausforderung für die Gleichstellung

Grant: CHF 276‘799.-
Duration: 36 months


Project leaders
- Professor Annegret Wigger, Institut für Soziale Arbeit (IFSA), University of Applied Sciences St. Gallen, Rorschach
- Dr. Nadia Baghdadi and Dr. Raphaela Hettlage, Institut für Soziale Arbeit (IFSA), University of Applied Sciences St.Gallen, Rorschach