Nancy Folbre
Encyclopedia
Nancy Folbre is a feminist economist
who focuses on economics and the family, non-market work and the economics of care
.
She is currently an economics
professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
.
She was elected president of the International Association for Feminist Economists in 2002, and has been an associate editor of the journal Feminist Economics since 1995.
from mainstream economic analysis can marginalize women and children and undervalue their contributions to the home and the community.
Care is a unique form of work because it is “intrinsically motivated,” in that not just money motivates people to care. Folbre argues that care work has been historically undervalued because it has been historically provided by women at low or no cost, and goes far to explain why women earn less than men. To this end, Folbre questions why women would even take care jobs and argues that the social construction of femininity
links femininity and care. Folbre argues that only by working collectively to ensure a greater supply and quality of care, independent of the market
, can we ensure that the responsibility of care is equitably distributed and not disproportionately placed upon women.
In her well-known book The Invisible Heart, Folbre explores the market
and the individualistic competition that it engenders, and argues that the necessary care of elders and children is not provided in the market
, yet is still absolutely necessary for society. Historically women have provided this care, whether as non-market work or low-paying market work. Folbre examines the social and governmental structures that support and provide for care, and their evolution throughout history. She concludes with the answer that we all have a responsibility to care for others, and provides a vision for the future in which care and care work are given greater priority and support.
Folbre has also written extensively on the social organization of time, namely the time allotted to care for children and the elderly
and how family policies and social institutions limit the choices people can make between paid and unpaid work.
Folbre has her blog, 'Care Talk' coordinating research on care provision. http://blogs.umass.edu/folbre/ . She also is a contributor to the New York Times Economix blog http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com .
in philosophy
from the University of Texas in 1971, an M.A.
in Latin American studies
from UT in 1973, and a Ph.D.
in economics
from the University of Massachusetts
in 1979.
Economic Growth center in 1979-1980. From 1995-1996 she received the French-American Foundation Fellowship for teaching and research in Paris. In 1999 she was awarded the Olivia Shieffelin Nordberg Award for Excellence in Writing and Editing in the Population Sciences, and in April 2004 she was named the Charlotte Perkins Gilman Fellow at the American Academy of Political and Social Science
.
In 1989 Folbre was awarded a National Science Foundation
grant to study Women’s Work and Women’s Households in Western Massachusetts between 1880-1910. She was awarded a five- year fellowship with the MacArthur Foundation
in 1998, and the Leontief Prize of the Global Development and Environment Institute
at Tufts University
in 2004.
As of 2004 she was a member of the National Academy of Science Panel, which studied the design of non-market accounts. She has been a board member of the Foundation for Child Development since 2000, a member of the National Advisory Commission of Child Care and Early Education as well as the National Organization for Women
Legal Defense and Education Fund since 2004.
Feminist economics
Feminist economics broadly refers to a developing branch of economics that applies feminist lenses to economics. Research under this heading is often interdisciplinary or heterodox...
who focuses on economics and the family, non-market work and the economics of care
Care work
Care work is a sub-category of work that includes all tasks that directly involve care processes done in service of others. Oftentimes, it is differentiated from other forms of work because it is intrinsically motivated, meaning that people are motivated to pursue care work for internal reasons,...
.
She is currently an economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
.
She was elected president of the International Association for Feminist Economists in 2002, and has been an associate editor of the journal Feminist Economics since 1995.
Focus
Folbre focuses on the economics of care, which she defines as, “work that involves connecting to other people, trying to help people meet their needs, things like the work of caring for children, caring for the elderly, caring for sick people or teaching is a form of caring labor,” and she adds that caring labor can be paid or unpaid. Folbre argues that mainstream economists do not pay enough attention to the economics of care. This is detrimental to women because the exclusion of non-market and care workCare work
Care work is a sub-category of work that includes all tasks that directly involve care processes done in service of others. Oftentimes, it is differentiated from other forms of work because it is intrinsically motivated, meaning that people are motivated to pursue care work for internal reasons,...
from mainstream economic analysis can marginalize women and children and undervalue their contributions to the home and the community.
Care is a unique form of work because it is “intrinsically motivated,” in that not just money motivates people to care. Folbre argues that care work has been historically undervalued because it has been historically provided by women at low or no cost, and goes far to explain why women earn less than men. To this end, Folbre questions why women would even take care jobs and argues that the social construction of femininity
Femininity
Femininity is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with girls and women. Though socially constructed, femininity is made up of both socially defined and biologically created factors...
links femininity and care. Folbre argues that only by working collectively to ensure a greater supply and quality of care, independent of the market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
, can we ensure that the responsibility of care is equitably distributed and not disproportionately placed upon women.
In her well-known book The Invisible Heart, Folbre explores the market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
and the individualistic competition that it engenders, and argues that the necessary care of elders and children is not provided in the market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
, yet is still absolutely necessary for society. Historically women have provided this care, whether as non-market work or low-paying market work. Folbre examines the social and governmental structures that support and provide for care, and their evolution throughout history. She concludes with the answer that we all have a responsibility to care for others, and provides a vision for the future in which care and care work are given greater priority and support.
Folbre has also written extensively on the social organization of time, namely the time allotted to care for children and the elderly
Elderly care
Elderly care or simply eldercare is the fulfillment of the special needs and requirements that are unique to senior citizens. This broad term encompasses such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care, and In-Home care.-Cultural and geographic...
and how family policies and social institutions limit the choices people can make between paid and unpaid work.
Folbre has her blog, 'Care Talk' coordinating research on care provision. http://blogs.umass.edu/folbre/ . She also is a contributor to the New York Times Economix blog http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com .
Education
Folbre received a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from the University of Texas in 1971, an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Latin American studies
Latin American Studies
Latin American studies is an academic discipline dealing with the study of Latin America and Latin Americans.-Definition:Latin American studies critically examines the history, culture, politics, and experiences of Latin Americans in Latin America and often also elsewhere .Latin American studies...
from UT in 1973, and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
in 1979.
Professional achievements
Folbre was awarded a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship by the Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
Economic Growth center in 1979-1980. From 1995-1996 she received the French-American Foundation Fellowship for teaching and research in Paris. In 1999 she was awarded the Olivia Shieffelin Nordberg Award for Excellence in Writing and Editing in the Population Sciences, and in April 2004 she was named the Charlotte Perkins Gilman Fellow at the American Academy of Political and Social Science
American Academy of Political and Social Science
The American Academy of Political and Social Science was founded in 1889 to promote progress in the social sciences. Sparked by Professor Edmund J. James and drawing from members of the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, and Bryn Mawr College, the Academy sought to...
.
In 1989 Folbre was awarded a National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
grant to study Women’s Work and Women’s Households in Western Massachusetts between 1880-1910. She was awarded a five- year fellowship with the MacArthur Foundation
MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicago but supporting non-profit organizations that work in 60 countries, MacArthur has awarded more than US$4 billion since its inception in 1978...
in 1998, and the Leontief Prize of the Global Development and Environment Institute
Global Development and Environment Institute
The Global Development And Environment Institute is a research center at Tufts University founded in 1993. GDAE works to promote a better understanding of how societies can pursue their economic and community goals in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner...
at Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
in 2004.
Professional involvements
She was elected president of the International Association for Feminist Economists in 2002, and has been an associate editor of the journal Feminist Economics since 1995.As of 2004 she was a member of the National Academy of Science Panel, which studied the design of non-market accounts. She has been a board member of the Foundation for Child Development since 2000, a member of the National Advisory Commission of Child Care and Early Education as well as the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
Legal Defense and Education Fund since 2004.
Book publications
In addition to numerous articles, reports, reviews and books chapters, Folbre has published the following books:- (with Randy Albelda and the Center for Popular Economics.) The War on the Poor: A Defense Manual. New York: The New Press, 1996.
- (with James Heintz and the Center for Popular Economics). The Ultimate Field Guide to the U.S. Economy. New York: The New Press, 2000
- The Invisible Heart: Economics and Family Values. New York: The New Press, 2001. ISBN 9781565846555
- Family Time: The Social Organization of Care. New York: Routledge, 2004
- Greed, Lust and Gender: A History of Economic Ideas . Oxford University Press, November 2009. ISBN 978-0-19-923842-2