Institutions and Invisible Labour: Unveiling the Structural Dynamics of the Unpaid and Care Economy

Abstract

Unpaid care labour, encompassing domestic chores, caregiving, and emotional labour, plays an essential yet often overlooked role in sustaining both households and national economies. Despite its substantial contribution, unpaid care labour is excluded from traditional economic measures such as Gross Domestic Product, which distorts economic representations and perpetuates gender inequalities. The aim of this paper is to examine the institutional dynamics that contribute to the invisibility and undervaluation of unpaid care work, focusing on the intersectionality of gender, race, class, and caste. The study explores both formal and informal institutional frameworks that shape caregiving roles and investigates policy interventions aimed at integrating caregiving into formal economic systems. The methodology employed involves a systematic review of existing literature on unpaid care labour, utilizing comparative theoretical analysis and content analysis of policy models. These theoretical frameworks are crucial for understanding the systemic factors that perpetuate the undervaluation of unpaid care work. The findings reveal that both formal (e.g., labour laws, welfare policies) and informal (e.g., cultural norms, gendered expectations) institutions significantly contribute to the economic invisibility of caregiving. Innovative policy interventions, such as paid parental leave, caregiver allowances, and Universal Basic Income (UBI), have shown promise in recognizing unpaid care work as legitimate economic activity. The study concludes that integrating unpaid care labour into national economic frameworks and shifting societal norms are essential for promoting gender equality and achieving economic justice. It is recommended that governments adopt comprehensive policy reforms, including paid parental leave, caregiver allowances, and UBI, to reduce gender disparities in both the public and private spheres.