Doing Care, Doing Citizenship

This book examines the emotional, micro-situated dynamics of status inclusion/exclusion that people produce while caring for others by focusing, in particular, on non-conventional families. Grounded in empirical research that involves different types of care and family contexts, the book situates care within more inclusive and critical approaches while shedding light on its multiple and often overlooked meanings and implications. Emotions are crucial in showing the interactional dynamics through which status inclusion, citizenship and social change are constantly reproduced at the micro-level, even when inequality, exclusion and lack of entitlement persist at the structural level. The specific focus of same-sex parenthood clarifies the emotion-based, micro-situated and anti-assimilationist model of social inclusion illustrated in this book. It shows clearly how care work may be connected to emotional and psychological exhaustion but also gratification, fulfilment and empowerment. Engaging and accompanied with a useful methodological appendix, Doing Care, Doing Citizenship is essential reading for students and academics of sociology, psychology, social work and social theory. It will also be of interest to practitioners interested in developing their understanding of the relationship between care, emotions, social inclusion and citizenship.