Abstract
It is short sighted to study caregiving in the illness context without considering gender. Historically, caring for ill family members was an expected role for women within the privacy of the family. Caregiving is still commonly perceived to be a part of “women’s work” in societies throughout the world (Esplen, 2009). This perception persists despite more flexible sharing of household tasks by women and men in Westernized societies (Hook, 2010). However, it is not just a perception: 60% of caregivers are women (National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP, 2015). The average “composite” US caregiver is a 49-year-old woman, married and employed, caring for her 60-year-old mother who does not live with her (Feinberg, Reinhard, Houser, & Choula, 2011).
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© 2016 Tracey A. Revenson, Konstadina Griva, Aleksandra Luszczynska, Val Morrison, Efharis Panagopoulou, Noa Vilchinsky and Mariët Hagedoorn
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Revenson, T.A. et al. (2016). Gender and Caregiving: The Costs of Caregiving for Women. In: Caregiving in the Illness Context. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137558985_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137558985_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-71900-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-55898-5
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