She-Cession to She-Resilience: Women and the Purple Economy

• This article aims to identify and discuss the underlying issues in the care economy. 
• Highlights the key concepts of the Care Economy designed to overcome these issues.
• Evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on the care economy and the gender gap. 
• Underscores the significance of the care economy’s valuation in the GDP calculation.

The Care Economy

The Care Economy, also called the Purple Economy, is the invisible engine of society. It’s what keeps families and communities running. Think about it: childcare, elder care, healthcare. These jobs are the backbone of daily life. Yet, they’re often undervalued, ignored, or taken for granted.

Now, picture this. You’re a home health aide taking care of someone’s aging parent. Or a childcare worker helping raise the next generation. Your work is essential. Without you, everything falls apart. But here’s the harsh reality, you’re making about $13.50 an hour. That’s roughly half of what other industries pay. It’s called the care penalty. And it’s just not right.

But there’s more. Unpaid care work is everywhere. Parents looking after kids. Family members support elderly relatives. People cook, clean, and keep households together. It’s hard work. And it massively fuels the economy. The International Labour Organization estimates that unpaid care work makes up 10% to 39% of a country’s GDP. In some places, it contributes more to the economy than manufacturing or transportation.

So why isn’t it recognized? Simple. It happens outside traditional market systems. No paycheck, no official value. And because of that, it’s ignored in economic measures. But here’s the truth—without care work, the entire economy would collapse.

It’s time to change the way we see and value care. Because without it, nothing else works.

Gender and the Purple Economy 

Women do most of the caregiving, whether they are paid for it or not. This has significant consequences. Many women sacrifice job opportunities, earn lower wages, and have less financial security because they are expected to take on the majority of care work.

This problem also affects women’s career growth. Many women work part-time or leave the workforce entirely because they have no other option. That means they earn less and have fewer chances to advance in their careers. Over time, this adds up, leaving women with lower lifetime earnings and less financial stability.

The Impact of Covid-19

The pandemic made things even worse. Schools and childcare centers closed, and someone had to take on the extra work of caring for children at home. That someone was usually a mother.

Studies show that during the pandemic, mothers were three times more likely to take on most of the additional childcare. Many had to cut back their working hours or leave their jobs altogether. In fact, mothers with children under the age of 12 had the highest rate of job loss.

This crisis was so severe that economists started calling it the “She-Cession.” Women were disproportionately affected, and the impact on their careers and finances will be felt for years to come.

Case Study: The Care Economy Valuation in Columbia

In Colombia, the care economy plays a massive role. If the value of care work were counted in economic reports, it would represent about 20% of the country’s GDP. That is more than the financial and agricultural sectors combined.

Women in Colombia spend an average of 31 hours per week on unpaid care work. That is almost double the time that men spend on the same tasks. The pandemic made this situation even worse.

By 2022, half of Colombian women could not participate in the workforce. They were expected to stay home and take care of their families. This highlights a long-standing issue. Women have been carrying the burden of unpaid care work for generations. The pandemic just made the problem more visible.

Policy Recommendations

It’s time for a new way of thinking. The Purple Economy offers three key steps to fix this problem.

Care work is real work. Pay fairly.

Right now, many care workers are barely scraping by. Some earn wages so low they can’t even cover basic needs. That’s unacceptable. Care work is essential, so it should be paid for like it. Governments need to step up. Hazard pay, fair wages, and better protections should be the norm, not the exception. It’s time to start paying care workers what they deserve.

Caregiving is exhausting. Let’s make it easier.

Taking care of others takes time, a lot of time. But smart investments can lighten the load. Imagine better access to clean water, electricity, and reliable transportation—simple things that free up hours every single day. When caregivers have more time, they can work, study, or just rest, and that benefits everyone.

Care work isn’t just a “woman’s job.”

Care should be a shared responsibility—between men and women, families, businesses, and governments. Right now, too much of it falls on women. That needs to change. Policies like paid paternity leave can help fathers step up. Affordable childcare and elder care services can take the pressure off families. Governments and companies need to invest in solutions that don’t leave women carrying the entire burden.

Conclusion:

Care work keeps everything running. It holds families together, fuels the economy, and helps society thrive. But for too long, it’s been ignored, undervalued, and taken for granted.

That needs to change.

We need to recognize care work, lighten the load on women, and share caregiving responsibilities. When we do that, we create a stronger, fairer economy for everyone. The Purple Economy shows us how. The roadmap is there. Now it’s time to act.

Let’s build a future where care work gets the respect, support, and pay it deserves because without it, nothing else works.

What is the purple economy?

It’s a way of looking at the economy that finally values care work, both paid and unpaid. Because without it, everything falls apart.  

How has COVID-19 affected the care economy?
The pandemic made things worse. Women took on even more caregiving. Many had to cut hours, switch jobs, or leave the workforce altogether. It widened the gap that was already there.

What policies can support women in the care economy?

Paid family leave, affordable childcare, and better pay for care workers aren’t just nice ideas. They’re necessary to ease the burden and create real change.

How does the care economy impact women’s participation in the workforce?

Unpaid care work holds women back. It limits education, job opportunities, and financial independence. Investing in care work isn’t just suitable for women; it’s good for everyone. A more potent, fairer economy starts here.