The unpaid care economy and gender (A case study of caregivers for the elderly in Giza Governorate)

The current study attempts to determine the role of the unpaid care economy directed at caring for the elderly in gender gaps, the aspects of care provided to them within the family, define the stereotypical duty within the framework of the partnership between men and women in their care, and clarify the role of care services They are directed to redistributing unpaid care work carried out by women, and examining the relationship between the unpaid care economy and gender gaps. It is based on the phenomenological trend, feminist theory, role theory, the qualitative stereotyping approach, and preference theory.
The study used descriptive analytical, anthropological, and phenomenological approaches, by conducting in-depth interviews with unpaid caregivers in rural and urban areas of Giza Governorate, and an observation tool, after conducting a pilot study during which it used focus group discussions with caregivers, initial interviews with the elderly, and a situation newspaper.
The study found that it is difficult to determine unpaid care work, because it lacks the qualities of obligation and contract, and there are family ties that impose a partnership between family members and caregivers. It became clear the extent of the discrepancy between the living experiences of the elderly in the aspects of care provided to them, and the variation of their needs according to gender, and the care was limited On the shoulders of females and was entrenched in the rural culture, Therefore, it is necessary to divide labor within the family in order to reduce the gender gap.