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Discovering the Hidden Work of Commodified Care: The Case of Early Childhood Educators

Author

Listed:
  • Frances Press

    (School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia)

  • Michael Bittman

    (School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia)

  • Linda Joan Harrison

    (School of Education, Macquarie University, Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia)

  • Judith E. Brown

    (School of Education, Macquarie University, Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia)

  • Sandie Wong

    (School of Education, Macquarie University, Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia)

  • Megan Gibson

    (School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the care economy, including commodified early childhood education and care (ECEC). While there is some literature about the low paid, invisible, and undervalued skills among the predominantly female workforce in the ECEC sector, there is little research into what these educators do in their working day and how this contributes to quality education and care for young children. This article provides a detailed examination of ten defined domains of ECEC work tasks, derived from data generated by educators’ use of ‘intensive hour’ time-diary methodology. The results reveal that the outstanding characteristics of this occupation are multi-tasking and the rapid switching of tasks as educators manage diverse expectations arising from work with groups of very young children, families, other staff, and meeting legislated responsibilities. Drawing on William J. Baumol’s economic theory, we consider the implications for productivity and cost tensions in ECEC.

Suggested Citation

  • Frances Press & Michael Bittman & Linda Joan Harrison & Judith E. Brown & Sandie Wong & Megan Gibson, 2024. "Discovering the Hidden Work of Commodified Care: The Case of Early Childhood Educators," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:13:y:2024:i:11:p:625-:d:1524429
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patricia Findlay & Jeanette Findlay & Robert Stewart, 2009. "The consequences of caring: skills, regulation and reward among early years workers," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 23(3), pages 422-441, September.
    2. William Baumol, 1996. "Children of performing arts, the economic dilemma: The climbing costs of health care and education," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 20(3), pages 183-206, September.
    3. Jean Kimmel & Rachel Connelly, 2007. "Mothers’ Time Choices: Caregiving, Leisure, Home Production, and Paid Work," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 42(3).
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