Historically; care work; initially confined to the domestic sphere and associated with women's duties; was only recognised as real work relatively late; under the influence of wars; crises and feminist struggles. From the 19th century onwards; it became institutionalised in public and private hospitals and charitable institutions; before developing in the home as a result of an ageing population; people's desire for choice and political policies aimed at controlling public spending. In France; this development led to an initial fragmentation of the legal framework for care work according to the legal status of the employer: for-profit organisations; non-profit organisations or private individuals. A second fragmentation; of a conventional nature; crystallised over time; resulting in a mosaic of distinct collective regimes. This dispersion of standards creates inequalities between workers in the same profession and hinders professional and geographical mobility; which in turn hinders the resolution of the labour shortage affecting the entire sector. Faced with this fragmentation; the state plays a central and ambivalent role. It influences and encourages historical players to unite; especially those in the social and solidarity economy; in order to limit this fragmentation; at the same time; it creates new fragmentation by promoting the emergence and consolidation of new players; especially those in the market economy. Is this double game played by the French state not detrimental to a policy of quality care; which is closely linked to the quality of working and employment conditions? In any case; this state position encourages the large-scale deployment of a market-based model of care; sometimes accompanied by a re-familiarisation of the burden; which increases social inequalities in relation to long-term care.
University of Bordeaux, France
University of Bordeaux, France
University of Bordeaux, France
Chapter Title
The Fragmentation of Care Workers’ Status Hinders the Attractiveness of Jobs in the Sector in France
Authors
Isabelle Daugareilh, Guillaume Santoro, Haoussetou Traore
Language
English
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-1029-4.09
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2026
Copyright Information
© 2026 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Book Title
CARE4CARE - We Care for Those Who Care - Vol. III
Book Subtitle
Building Dignified Care Work in Europe: Critical Reflections, Policy Proposals and Practical Tools
Editors
Maria Luisa Vallauri, William Chiaromonte
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
408
Publication Year
2026
Copyright Information
© 2026 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-1029-4
ISBN Print
979-12-215-1028-7
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-1029-4
eISBN (epub)
979-12-215-1030-0
Series Title
Studi sul lavoro di cura - Studies on Care Work