For Women, the Other Side of Work Is NOT Play…It’s Caregiving

After hearing from many people that Sunday night online events are just not convenient, we conducted a little survey of alternative times and the results are in:  From now on, Fem2.0 Twittercasts will be Monday nights, 10 pm EST, under the hashtag #fem2.

Our next Twittercast will take place July 13 on a topic near and dear to our hearts: women and caregiving. In fact, because we feel this topic is so important, Fem2.0 is organizing a blog carnival leading up to the Twittercast to raise awareness about the huge role caregiving plays in women’s lives. Will you participate?

Invitation to Fem2.0 Blog Carnival: For Women, the Other Side of Work Is NOT Play… It’s Caregiving

Women take care of children, spouses, parents, family members, friends. We dominate the caregiving professions, like nursing or social work. Ask anyone receiving care of any kind and he or she will most likely tell you that the primary caregiver is a woman.
 
Caregiving is a job for which women usually don’t get or expect monetary compensation. It is a critical aspect of work/life and healthcare issues. How can caregiving be made easier to make our lives easier?

Over the next couple of weeks, Fem2.0 is partnering with the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to take a closer look at caregiving and women.

• What is caregiving in all its shapes and forms?
• What role does it play in women’s lives?
• What can be done, or what changes need to happen, to facilitate caregiving?

We are looking for insights, comments, and expertise. We are looking for personal stories to illustrate the human experience of caregiving and to build a sense of solidarity among all caregivers.
 
On the blog now, NFCA Communications Director Deborah Halpern writes:

"We are mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, grand daughters and friends. We are the ones caring for our loved ones with chronic ailments, disabilities and the frailties of old age. The question is … do we recognize who we are? Generally the answer is a resounding NO. We see ourselves as loving mothers, devoted wives, responsible daughters caring for those who need help or can not care for themselves alone." Read the rest here.
 
From the Reeve Foundation: 

"Caregiving seems to choose us, emerging from events and circumstances beyond our control. Spinal cord injury, debilitation or sudden illness may come without warning.
 
"This is a job that cannot be skirted and cannot always be delegated. It can be difficult, physically and emotionally. It can be time-consuming. While caring for loved ones can be enormously satisfying, there are days, it seems, that offer little reward." Read the rest here.
 
Please join this campaign to raise awareness about women and caregiving in the following ways:
 
1. Blog about it by July 13 and send us the link, so we can add your post to the blog carnival on Fem2.0. Alternatively you can write a piece for the Fem2.0 blog and send it to info@fem2pt0.com.
 
2. Participate in the Women and Caregiving Twittercast Monday night, July 13, 10 PM EST – hashtag #fem2. Find out how to join a Twittercast here.
   
Finally, we ask you: How do you know when someone is a great activist organizer? How about if that someone actually takes notes during Fem2.0 Twittercasts? Yes, Jon Pincus took notes during last week’s discussion about how #p2 and #fem2 can work together more effectively. We were impressed.
 
During the Twittercast, there was an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Another interesting thread was the identification of issues that the #p2 and #fem2 have both focused on so far: healthcare, reproductive choice and privacy. See the notes here, and don’t forget to throw kudos at the diagram.
 
Have a great weekend!