Black women’s unpaid political activism deserves acknowledgement. Economist Nina Banks argues that their community work should count as a form of work. And she means “count” literally! Community activism as work Feminist economists have highlighted how neoclassical economics wrongfully excluded domestic work, primarily done by women, as productive work that contributes to the economy. Likewise, Banks argues that both mainstream and feminist economists have missed how the community is a site … [Read more...]
Comparing Hannah Arendt and neoliberalism on the family
The family is at the heart of neoliberalism. Thus argues Melinda Cooper in her 2017 book Family Values. Usually when I hear the term neoliberalism I think about the individual and personal responsibility. Yet, Cooper demonstrates, the family is central to its operations and maintenance. I think Arendt’s critique of the family can be especially helpful in illuminating this claim. But, she also naturalizes the family in a way — similar to neoliberalism. Personal responsibility equals family … [Read more...]
To obey or not to obey? The logic of social distancing
Arendt often quoted Shakespeare, and paraphrasing Hamlet – one of Western culture’s greatest procrastinators - is apropos for my sense of ambiguity right now as to whether to obey…or not to? In a previous post, Katy noted how the Covid 19 crisis represented a time for courage. Across the world, we have seen courageous, and irresponsible, actions from leaders and others. But it is not so much courage that I have been thinking about. Rather, it is obedience. In her essay “Personal … [Read more...]
From stories to policies
Can storytelling help us respond to the opioid epidemic? Since 2016, more than 9,000 Canadians have died from opioids. Countless others have experienced health complications and adverse side effects, including a reversed overdose. The Canadian opioid epidemic shows little sign of slowing. It’s time we start exploring new approaches to the problem. A 90-day consultation In Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada works with the federal government to create policies and institutions to support … [Read more...]
Private sponsorship and community solidarity
The most recent issue of Refuge: Canada's Journal on Refugees is devoted to private sponsorship. Reading it encouraged me to return to themes I raised in a previous post about Canada's Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. And good news--Refuge is open access, so anyone can read these articles! I find private sponsorship for refugee resettlement to be an opportunity to think through Hannah Arendt's claims about the blurring of private and public concerns. For Arendt, the private, the realm … [Read more...]