Solidary Care Economy in the Politization and Socialization of Women’s Hidden Labour

Abstract

Are there economic solidarity networks in contemporary irregular urban settlements? Is it possible to boost them? This work is based on an Action Research process on economic collaboration networks in “campamentos” (shantytowns), located in the city of Talcahuano, Gran Concepción, a deindustrialized and neo-extractivist zone of Chile. The search, carried out in collaboration with a traditional foundation, consisted of a set of participatory workshops developed with women. The findings permit to collectively recognize and acknowledge the heterogeneity of economic practices carried out by women around the economy of care and reproduction of life. As such, it allows a debate about the relationship between the fields of feminist economics and solidarity economy.

Keywords

• trabajo doméstico, economía feminista, economía solidaria, género, campamentos