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A review by samdalefox
The Care Crisis: What Caused It and How Can We End It? by Emma Dowling
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
This book defines what care is, who does it, who receives it and explores the various aspects of health and social care system in the UK; Dowling does an excellent job explaining the history of policy decisions that have resulted in the various crises and 'care fixes' we experience today. There were many parts i knew through experience of living in this hellscape country and working in the industry myself, but I also learnt lots, the book joined the dots between gaps in my knowledge. I would highly recommend to those both in and out of the care industry because, as the book highlights, most of us will need care at somepoint in our lives, and a great many of us provide care too!
I turned down the corner of every other page, it was that good. The statistics and claims are all referenced with credible sources. It focuses on the UK but gives a global view as necessary e.g. diffrences in the devolved nations of the UK, immigrant workers, and the impact of global financialisation. Dowling also takes a necessary intersectional lens which is invaluable to understanding how the care crisis disproportionately affects certain demographics such as Black and POC, women, and the working classes.
I docked 0.25 stars because sometimes the language was hard to follow, especially around financialisation, and although the conclusion was good, I wanted her to expand on some of the solutions mentioned. The book describes the problems in exquisite detail over almost 200 pages, but only brushes on some suggested alternatives and solutions in a few pages.
I turned down the corner of every other page, it was that good. The statistics and claims are all referenced with credible sources. It focuses on the UK but gives a global view as necessary e.g. diffrences in the devolved nations of the UK, immigrant workers, and the impact of global financialisation. Dowling also takes a necessary intersectional lens which is invaluable to understanding how the care crisis disproportionately affects certain demographics such as Black and POC, women, and the working classes.
I docked 0.25 stars because sometimes the language was hard to follow, especially around financialisation, and although the conclusion was good, I wanted her to expand on some of the solutions mentioned. The book describes the problems in exquisite detail over almost 200 pages, but only brushes on some suggested alternatives and solutions in a few pages.