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Women and Unpaid Care Work: A Review

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War-Time Care Work and Peacebuilding in Africa

Part of the book series: Gender, Development and Social Change ((GDSC))

Abstract

This chapter examines the degree of attention paid to women as unpaid caregivers/providers in peacebuilding and the increased burden endured by women during and after war. It provides a literature review on unpaid care work in relation to peacebuilding. It inquires if the literature on care work takes sufficient account of role women as caregivers/providers in peacebuilding, or if it deals with the increased care burdens placed on women in wartime and aftermath of war? It also reviews the resolutions of UNSCR 1325 that have promoted the role of women in peace processes with specific attention to gendered care work. This chapter concludes with background knowledge on the valuation of unpaid care work.

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Ibnouf, F.O. (2020). Women and Unpaid Care Work: A Review. In: War-Time Care Work and Peacebuilding in Africa. Gender, Development and Social Change. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26195-5_3

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