The value of care within the home environment

Abstract

This paper has adopted the form of a reflection on the impact that care –or the lack of it– has in the life of any human being from different points of view. It contains a brief description of the home environment and homemaking, and also a reflection on the ‘paradox of homemaking’, which consists in the lack of social recongition for such a work that is so essential for human life and development. It finally investigates the conditions for this work to be performed –availability of time, qualification, and working conditions– with a mention to the case of Spain.