2nd Annual Early- Career Network Conference

Event Date: Wednesday 11th November 2020

The Early- Career Network held their 2nd Annual Conference of feminist economics, looking at the concept of social reproduction in theory, practice and public policy.

Social Reproduction
Crossing disciplinary boundaries and wielding great explanatory power for researchers, Social Reproduction Theory (SRT) provides a lens through which to understand reproductive work as a crucial, yet often invisible sphere of economic activity, essential alongside production for a full and functioning society. It offers a framework to challenge the exploitation and devaluation of paid and unpaid reproductive labour, as well as re-envisioning productive labour and the wider economy towards sustaining life. Rather than understanding oppression as purely a class struggle, SRT recognises the inequalities between productive and reproductive labour through the lens of social difference, including gender, race and class.

Contemporary global politics and social issues offer an exciting moment in the life of the concept, with the Covid-19 crisis further increasing its relevance, visibility and urgency. This one-day virtual conference explored approaches to and uses of Social Reproduction Theory old and new, and current applications across research, campaigning and public policy.

About the event
The WBG 2nd Annual Early-Career Network Conference ‘Social Reproduction, Theory, Practice and Public Policy’ focused on the use of this concept as a feminist economic tool to bring about change.

The day was filled with hearing from international feminist economics experts, policymakers and campaigners including Professor Tithi Bhattacharya, Professor Diane Elson, Professor Ruth Pearson, Professor Sue Himmelweit, Stella Creasy MP as well as new voices from the field.

We were also delighted to welcome Professor Tithi Bhattacharya, who presented the Key-Note entitled Social Reproduction in the shadow of the Pandemic: Or How States “Discovered” Essential Work’

You can watch the recording of the full conference below 

Find out more about the Early- Career Network here 

Second part of the conference

Workshop

Keynote speech