Care in the City

Abstract

Care in Latin American cities is a critical area of study, as it represents an activity that often lacks social recognition and value to the development and well-being of millions of individuals, families, and communities. This daily exercise is particularly challenging due to the insufficient and often remote urban services and infrastructure in areas characterized by high levels of poverty, marked inequality, and violence. This paper examines current knowledge regarding care practices in Latin American cities. Our research team reviewed various secondary sources, including books and journals in Spanish, that address urban care. Employing content and thematic analysis from a qualitative perspective, this study explores deductive and inductive categories such as the concepts of city and care, the sexual division of labor, and spatiotemporal dimensions, including mobility, time use, public and private space, and the right to give and receive care. This work contributes to integrating previously scattered sources and synthesizing topics traditionally addressed separately by scholars of urban studies and care issues.