Understanding the Relation of Paid and Unpaid Work to Precariousness

The aim of this study is to contribute to the development of a theoretical model of precariousness within the ERC-funded project ResPecTMe. By comparing care work in two different settings (in an institutional setting and in private households) in Germany and in the United Kingdom, the study seeks to answer the following research questions: How is paid and unpaid work related to precariousness? How is control over work exercised? Two theoretical approaches will be helpful to answer these questions: On the one hand feminist theories which can be used to analyse and interpret the specific character of care work (the client- worker relationship, the role of gender). On the other hand labour process analysis, which enables the researcher to precisely analyse the different steps in the labour process. For investigating the topic, qualitative in-depth interviews will be used.