A gender perspective to the social representations of elderly care

Abstract

This article presents the main results of the project “Towards a National System of Care: social representations and proposals for the care of dependents”, which main objective was to study the social representations of care of the Uruguayan population in order to improve the understanding of care as a component of social welfare from a gender and rights perspective. So as to fulfill this objective, a representative survey of the Uruguayan population was conducted. The results show the prevailing presence of “familism” in representations. The most desirable situation for older people is care provided at home, especially by family members. We found the great influence of gender mandate of care giving in female identity that transcends women different social positions. Women are more predispose than men to make flexible employment arrangements or to quit their jobs to provide care for the elderly.