Women's Caring: Feminist Perspectives on Social Welfare

Anne Savoie is a youth counsellor in Anjou, Quebec.

This book is a series of articles written by academics in the field of
social work and social policy.

The caring perspective is analyzed through the caring provided by women
to children, adolescents, and healthy adults, and to aged and disabled
persons. The focus is woman’s position in the family and her role as
“carer”—whether or not she is capable of it, and whether or not it
is necessary (for example, a wife caring for a healthy husband who does
not reciprocate the same care may be doing unnecessary work).

Each chapter concentrates on a particular type of caring: as a mother,
as a wife, as the child of elderly parents. The authors offer a history
of how we arrived at these expectations that women ought to care, and
demonstrate how these societal ideals are ingrained in both men and
women, professionals and lay persons.

Women’s Caring is well written and well researched. It provides
valuable information about the history of caring and of the idea that
women are “natural carers,” and explores how inappropriate and
unattainable these ideals are for today. It brings forward valid
arguments and questions why governments continue to enforce such ideals.
It also suggests alternatives that would alleviate the burden of care
women carry and elevate the quality of life of both the carer and the
cared-for.

All workers in the social sciences and social work should read this
book in order to assess their intentions and expectations and reflect on
the effectiveness of their interventions. It would also make a good
reference book for those interested in issues pertaining to caring for
others, the welfare state, and women.