Care, Gender and Society: A look at the Sociocultural Aspects of Care Practices

Research line 1

Care, Gender and Society: A look at the Sociocultural Aspects of Care Practices

It seeks to characterize and study the reality of care in Chile, taking into account the experiences of caregivers, gender inequalities, the implementation of the National Support and Care System, and the role of community-based care.

Objectives
  • Characterize caregivers and caregiving work, along with the positive and negative consequences of this role in different areas of their lives.
  • Establish how gender inequality in care practices increases women’s social and economic vulnerability, as well as more intensely undermines their physical and mental health conditions.
  • Describe the implementation of the National System of Support and Care in the country, delving into barriers and facilitators.
  • Establish an overview of the social organization of care in the country, with a focus on community-based care (from and towards the community).
Head Researcher

María Beatriz Fernández Lorca

PhD in Sociology at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC). Professor at the Institute of Sociology UC, and researcher at the Center for the Study of Age and Aging, CEVE UC.

Herminia Gonzálvez Torralbo

PhD in Anthropology and Cultural Diversity from Universidad de Granada (UGR, Spain) and professor at the Universidad Central de Chile (Chile).

 

Current students

Valentina González

BA in Philosophy and MSc. PhD student in Sociology at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Her thesis project focuses on analysing trajectories on children carers and the relationship among care, labour market and mental health.

Norma Silva

Educational psychologist with a diploma in social projects and a Master in Gender Studies and Psychosocial Intervention. Doctoral student in Psychology at Universidad Alberto Hurtado. Her research focuses on care and masculinities.

María Cristina Fernández 

Occupational therapist and Master in Education in Health Sciences. PhD student in Public Policy at Universidad Mayor. Her research focuses on older adults’ life trajectories.

Catalina Ganga

Psychologist and MSC in Social Policy and Public Health. Doctoral student in Social Sciences at Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS). Her research focuses on the emotional dimension of caring for older people in Chile and Germany.

Mónica Muñoz

Sociologist from the University of Valparaíso with a Master’s degree in Social Policy, Labor, and Welfare from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Alonso Villarroel

Anthropologist. MA student in Government and Public Administration at Universidad de Chile. His research project analyzes the local government’s role in caring.