CareVisions Project, ISS21

Speakers: Tiina Sihto, University of Helsinki & Paula Vasara, Tampere University

Discussant: Katherine O'Donnell, University College Dublin, Justice for Magdalenes Research Group

Monday 14 November 12:00-13:30

Online seminar via MS Teams

Register attendance on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/carevisions-seminar-the-dark-side-of-care-tickets-446049394747

Care is currently one of the most pressing societal issues, and a prerequisite to our being. Care is often seen as an altruistic act, motivated by love and affection amongst kin, and as a "calling" among social and healthcare professionals. However, the everyday realities of care are much more manifold than the ideals attached to it. At worst, care can be binding, burdensome, time-consuming work that can push the carer to his/her psychological, physical and emotional limits, and entail misuse of power and even violence.

In this presentation, we discuss the dark side of care. We understand the dark side of care as structures, practices, actions, thoughts and feelings related to care. They are difficult to talk about, and often associated with taboo or stigma. Our presentation is based on the upcoming book Hoivan pimeä puoli (eng. Dark side of care, eds. Sihto & Vasara).