• Author/ Authors

  Michael Fine

• Suggested citation (APA 7th edition)

  Fine, M. (2015). Cultures of care. In J. Twigg and W. Martin (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of Cultural Gerontology. Routledge Handbooks Online.

Long Summary

This book chapter explores the importance of understanding care as a product of cultural ideals and practice. By reviewing the cultural contexts of both formal care (care is that provided by formally organised and authorised services, generally involving paid labour), and informal modes of caregiving (unpaid assistance provided by intimate partners, family, or close friends) the chapter highlights how care is constructed in differing societies and refers to various major theories and approaches of caring. These include care as a feminist issue, the ethics of care, medical anthropology of care, professional cultures of care and their appropriation by management. While there are important differences between each of these approaches, they all build on the concept of culture.