The ethics of care is a moral theory that emphasizes the importance of interdependence, mutual aid, and compassionate action to ensure wellbeing and flourishing for all individuals within a community. This theory challenges traditional ideas about individual rights and responsibilities, arguing instead that communities are better served when everyone contributes their unique skills and resources toward shared goals.
Recent years have seen the rise of neoliberal ideologies that promote self-care and productivity as the primary means of achieving personal success. These ideologies suggest that individualistic pursuits, such as self-improvement and material wealth, are the keys to happiness and fulfillment. The ethics of care, which prioritize collective wellbeing over individual gain, can be co-opted by these neoliberal forces through reinterpretation or misrepresentation. To resist this co-optation, advocates of the ethics of care must challenge the underlying assumptions of neoliberalism and reassert its core values.
One way in which neoliberal ideology co-opts the ethics of care is by appropriating terms like "self-care" and "wellness," which have traditionally been associated with communitarian practices.
Yoga, meditation, and other mindfulness techniques were once viewed as tools for cultivating interpersonal connection and reducing stress.
They have now become commodified and commercialized, often in ways that privilege profit over social justice concerns. Similarly, the language of "productivity" has been used to justify exploitative labor practices, including long work hours and intense competition among employees. By using these terms to promote individualistic behaviors, neoliberalism undermines the collectivist spirit of the ethics of care.
To resist co-optation, advocates of the ethics of care must reclaim the original meanings of these terms and reorient them toward their collective potential. They should emphasize the importance of mutual aid, reciprocity, and shared responsibility in all aspects of life, from personal relationships to political activism. This requires a commitment to social change and collective action, rather than simply self-improvement or material gain. It also means challenging power structures that perpetuate inequality and oppression, such as patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism.
Another way in which neoliberal ideology co-opts the ethics of care is by promoting an individualistic vision of wellbeing that prioritizes private interests over public goods.
The idea of a "self-made man" suggests that success comes solely from one's own efforts and talents, without acknowledging the role of community support or luck. This narrow view ignores the reality that individuals are part of complex systems that shape their opportunities and experiences. Advocates of the ethics of care should instead emphasize the interdependence of people within those systems, and work to create policies and institutions that support equitable access to resources and education.
In addition to resisting co-optation, advocates of the ethics of care can also push back against the commercialization of care itself. This includes rejecting commodified practices like therapy, parenting, and healthcare that treat people as consumers rather than members of communities. Instead, they should promote communitarian models of care, where everyone contributes their unique skills and resources for the good of all. This may involve creating new social infrastructure, such as community gardens, childcare centers, or health clinics run by volunteers.
Advocates of the ethics of care must recognize that resistance requires ongoing effort and resilience. Neoliberal ideologies will continue to try to appropriate their values and undermine their goals. They must remain vigilant and persistent in their commitment to collective wellbeing, even when faced with opposition and setbacks. By doing so, they can help build a more just and caring world that values human connection and flourishing over individual gain.
How can the ethics of care resist co-optation by neoliberal ideologies of self-care and productivity?
The concept of ethical care has been used as a basis for resistance against neoliberalism's ideals of self-care and productivity. Self-care emphasizes personal responsibility, individual choice, and private benefit, while care emphasizes empathy, collective action, and interconnectedness. Neoliberal discourses on self-care are often exclusionary and hierarchical, prioritizing certain groups over others based on their ability to pay or access resources.