Read the articles “Invisible Labors” and “The Care Crisis in the Philippines” (PDF links) and also review the material under “Research and Explore” in this module and answer the following question in at least 250 words.
1. Who are the essential workers in the global economy? Why are they doing the essential work of emotional, psychological and physical care for people who are unable to care for themselves? Discuss in detail with examples from the readings. Why are these caregivers made to feel less than and their labor made invisible?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Invisibility of Essential Caregivers in the Global Economy
Introduction:
In the global economy, certain individuals perform the essential work of emotional, psychological, and physical care for those unable to care for themselves. These caregivers, often overlooked and undervalued, play a critical role in society. Analyzing the articles “Invisible Labors” and “The Care Crisis in the Philippines,” this essay aims to explore who these essential workers are, why they undertake this vital work, and the reasons behind their invisibility and marginalization.
Essential Workers in the Global Economy:
Essential caregivers encompass a diverse range of individuals, such as domestic workers, nannies, healthcare aides, and family members providing care within their homes. They contribute to society by offering emotional support, performing household chores, providing healthcare services, and tending to the unique needs of children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
Invisible Labors:
Despite their indispensable contributions, essential caregivers often face marginalization and invisibility. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, societal norms and gender roles perpetuate the notion that caregiving is a natural extension of women’s responsibilities. This belief diminishes the recognition of their labor and reinforces gender inequality.
Moreover, the neoliberal economic model prioritizes profit over care. This system undervalues emotional and domestic work, leading to the underpayment and exploitation of caregivers. The invisibility of their labor is further exacerbated by the fact that it often takes place within the private sphere of homes, hidden from public view.
The Care Crisis in the Philippines:
The article “The Care Crisis in the Philippines” highlights the experiences of Filipino migrant caregivers who face numerous challenges in their work abroad. These individuals are forced to leave their families behind to provide care for others elsewhere. They endure long hours, low wages, and limited access to social protection. Their labor is rendered invisible as they are often confined to private households and isolated from broader society.
Conclusion:
Essential caregivers in the global economy play a crucial role in providing emotional, psychological, and physical care to those who cannot care for themselves. Despite their indispensable contributions, they are made to feel less than and their labor is made invisible. Addressing this issue requires recognizing the value of caregiving work, challenging gender norms, advocating for fair wages and labor protections, and promoting social inclusion for caregivers. Only then can we create a more equitable society that appreciates and honors the essential work performed by these caregivers.
