Caring for life: an essential aim

Abstract

María Pazos and Bibiana Medialdea have developed a document for Podemos under the title of “Reorganizing the society of care: a necessary condition for economic recovery and democratic progress”, where they present a set of policies that would address an unresolved issue in our country. Over the past forty years, the incorporation of women into the labor market has made it practically impossible to carry out care tasks properly. As a result, women must take on a double burden, since men have not taken over their half of what were previously considered female duties. Also, during the stages of our lives in which we are most dependent; we are not receiving a proper care. The authors suggest a set of measures -35-hour shifts, free nursery care as a universal service, services which guarantee people’s autonomy throughout their lives- that constitute a solid basis for the introduction of essential changes later on. Moreover, they explain the way in which such measures could contribute to solving economic and environmental problems. We must congratulate Podemos for this initiative, expect them to include it in their programme and, if they finally take office, implement them in a decisive and effective way.