Connected lives: Care, money management, and gender inequality in low-income households in times of crisis in Argentina

Abstract

Inspired by the sociology of Zelizer, this article lays out a framework of analysis that sheds light on money management as a cornerstone of the social organization of care. First, it lays out the features of the money management of care and caretaking practices to reveal a cyclical process in which the money side of care is rendered invisible and naturalized. It then turns to the question of debt, a key aspect of money management, and its reinforcement of gender inequalities during the care crisis associated with COVID-19. The findings are drawn from a qualitative survey of low-income households conducted in Argentina in 2021