Care Revolution

• Pages: 420-428
• Date: 21 May 2018
• Published date: 21 May 2018
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-07-2017-0146
• Author: Gabriele Winker,Brigitte Aulenbacher,Birgit Riegraf
• Subject Matter: HR & organizational behaviour,Employment law,Diversity, equality, inclusion

Care Revolution

Gabriele Winker

Arbeit-Gender-Technik, TU Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

interviewed by

Brigitte Aulenbacher

Department for the Theory of Society and Social Analyses,

Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria, and

Birgit Riegraf

Department of Sociology, University Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany

Keywords Gender, Discrimination, Equal opportunities, Feminism, Family roles, Social reform

Paper type Viewpoint

1. Introduction

Gabriele Winker is a Professor in the Department of Work-Gender-Technology at the

Hamburg University of Technology in Germany. In her work, she always attempts to

combine theoretical analysis and scientific finding with political action. She is one of the

main initiators of the ‘Care Revolution’movement. This political engagement is basing on

her analysis of the crisis of social reproduction in the context of austerity politics.

Care Revolution includes a profound critique of capitalism and combines this with the

vision of a solidary society. It is dedicated to social movements, NGOs, trade unions, etc.,

as well as to all care givers and receivers as a political transformation strategy of the care

sector and, at the end, of the society. It tries to bring together a wide range of political and

scientific perspectives to initiate collaboration between different groups and individuals.

As Care Revolution concerns questions of economy, justice and democracy as

discussed in this special issue of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion,wehaveinvited

Gabriele Winker to give an interview about her initiative, the background, the idea, the

practice and the perspective.

2. Interview with Gabriele Winker

Brigitte Aulenbacher and Birgit Riegraf: Among the protest movements on the theme of care

and care work that have emerged in Germany in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and

prompted by the country’s austerity policies, the Care Revolution network is the activist alliance

that has attracted the most attention. You are acknowledged as the initiator of the Care

Revolution concept and have written a book with the same title[1]. What made you take the

initiative, and what are your aims in doing so?

Gabriele Winker: The starting point was the fact that the social framework conditions for

care workers in neoliberal capitalism are completely inadequate, yet care work is barely

talked about in the political sphere. There are many people who are no longer sure how to

master the demands of their professional and family lives without having a breakdown

themselves. Their jobs have grown more demanding to the point that they are working at

the limit of their capacities. At the same time, they are urged to maintain their employability,

for example, by taking care of their continuing education and physical fitness. However, the

full extent of their exhaustion can only really be understood if the high demands in the area

of familial care work, which is carried out particularly by women, are considered

simultaneously. Parents are responsible for everything from regularly supervising their

children’s homework to ensuring that they eat healthily. Meanwhile, children and young

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

An International Journal

Vol. 37 No. 4, 2018

pp. 420-428

© Emerald PublishingLimited

2040-7149

DOI 10.1108/EDI-07-2017-0146

Received 11 July 2017

Accepted 11 July 2017

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

www.emeraldinsight.com/2040-7149.htm

420

EDI

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