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Labors of love: Work, labor, and care in dog–human relations

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  • Erika Cudworth

Abstract

This paper suggests that the role of “pet” might be understood as a form of labor, and a condition shaped by human work. Drawing on an empirical study of everyday lives with companion dogs it considers how the work of humans outside the home impacts the lives of people and dogs; and the kinds of carework undertaken by both people and dogs in multispecies homes. The concept of paid work has been foundational in sociology while understanding work as unpaid, privatized and invisible reproductive labor has been secured through feminist interventions. Work, has been assumed to be human exclusive, but this has been recently challenged by research on animal work. This paper deploys (eco)feminist care theory to consider how far work, labor and care might be productive categories in understanding a hitherto neglected area ‐ relationships with companion dogs.

Suggested Citation

  • Erika Cudworth, 2022. "Labors of love: Work, labor, and care in dog–human relations," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 830-844, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:29:y:2022:i:3:p:830-844
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12814
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nickie Charles & Charlotte Aull Davies, 2008. "My Family and Other Animals[1]: Pets as Kin," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 13(5), pages 13-26, September.
    2. Nickie Charles & Carol Wolkowitz, 2019. "Bringing dogs onto campus: Inclusions and exclusions of animal bodies in organizations," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 303-321, April.
    3. Suvi Satama & Astrid Huopalainen, 2019. "‘Please tell me when you are in pain’: A heartbreaking story of care, grief and female–canine companionship," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 358-376, April.
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