Critical care: advancing an ethic of care in theory and practice
This conference took place on 13 and 14 September 2012 at the University of Brighton
Care has been and remains a contested concept. The notion of 'critical care' reflects the way in which:
Ethics of care scholars and practitioners have highlighted the critical place of care in ensuring survival, well-being and social justice.
Care has been subject to critique for being oppressive, paternalistic and at odds with disabled people's struggle for citizenship.
Care is a political as well as personal issue.
There are examples of what are nominally 'care services' being revealed to be anything but caring. Criticisms of what is called 'care' reveal the necessity for a critical analysis of how and why poor practice and abuse continues.
The pursuit of a positively critical approach to both the theory and practice of an ethic of care is timely. This conference was designed to stimulate and develop a growing body of scholarship and practice wisdom challenging the dominance of neo-liberal thinking that has relegated care values to a marginal position. It reflects enduring evidence of the importance of care in people's everyday lives and in policy making.
This conference was hosted by the Care, Health and Well-being research group, School of Applied Social Science, University of Brighton in collaboration with Dr Tula Brannelly, Massey University, New Zealand and Dr Nicki Ward, Birmingham University.
(Left to right) Dr Lizzie Ward, Dr Nicki Ward, Professor Marian Barnes, Dr Tula Brannelly, Professor Joan Tronto, Professor Inguun Moser
Plenary speakers were:
Joan Tronto, Professor of Political Science, University of Minnesota. Author of Moral Boundaries
Ingunn Moser, Professor of Sociology and Dean in the Department of Nursing and Health Care, Diakonhjemmet University College, Oslo. Joint editor of Care in Practice
Marian Barnes, Professor of Social Policy, University of Brighton. Author of Care in Everyday Life: an ethic of care in practice
Listen to their presentations:
- Democracy and caring responsibilities in a global context: Joan Tronto
- Telecare: new values, ideals and modes of caring: Ingunn Moser
- Struggling for, with and against care: Marian Barnes
Over 100 delegates from 17 countries attended with a shared interest in developing work that can promote critical thinking about care. Our aim was to bring together people working on an ethic of care in different contexts and from different perspectives. Feedback indicated that the way the conference was organised reflected the theme by ‘caring for’ contributors. The diversity of contributors raised many questions and issues that need further exploration and development. We hope that the dialogue started at this event will continue via a web-based network launched at the conference.
- Download conference programme
[File type: PDF document | File size: 412Kb]
Care Ethics Global Network
The network will provide a space where care ethics and care ethicists have a presence and is the first care ethics network that will provide information about social science research to audiences such as users of care services and policy makers and where for example, potential students may find research supervisors. The network will be hosted in New Zealand by eSOCSCI – engaged social science: Hui Rangahau Tahi at www.esocsci.org.nz. It is hoped that the network will be up and running by December 2012. For more information contact Dr Tula Brannelly at P.M.Brannelly@massey.ac.nz
Photo gallery
