Accessibility of care: Bremen project calls for visible care spaces!

Accessibility of care: Bremen project calls for visible care spaces!

Something exciting is happening in the world of care and nursing work in Bremen. From October 16th to 18th, the Collective Care Lab in the Domshof Forum will show the “Care and the City” project, which deals intensively with the accessibility and visibility of care spaces. Under the leadership of Clara Alisch and her team, consisting of Janis Fisch, Leo Rokita and Anastasia Zeller, a concept is presented that includes both workshops and video installations. The special? Admission is free and registration is not required. This creates a low-threshold offer that also appeals to people without an academic background, as Weser-Kurier reports.

The focus is particularly on the often hidden changing rooms in Bremen, which are often located in basements or poorly accessible areas. The common fate of changing tables and syringe drops is recognized as a deterrent for parents. Alisch emphasizes that such combinations do not leave a welcoming impression when it comes to bringing a family into the city. The initiative calls for more open offerings to be created to promote equality.

The importance of care work

The issue of care work is crucial for our social balance. A look at the numbers shows that women still take on a large part of the housework and care work. This means that men are often less involved in the upbringing and care of their children. A report by the Federal Employment Agency confirms that the proportion of male skilled workers in nursing professions remains low, which is due to social structures and expectations, as highlighted in an analysis on Bundesstiftung Gleichstellung.

The gender care gap, i.e. the unequal distribution of care work between the sexes, not only causes prejudice, but also an imbalance in the professional world. According to a study by the BMFSFJ, it is clear that the social expectation that women take on the main responsibility for childcare and care work is deeply rooted. The Care and the City project aims to question these structures and find new ways in which cities can create more visible and accessible spaces for care. A children's concert and quiet areas for breastfeeding and changing diapers will encourage families to experience the city differently and in a familiar way.

At a glance: action program

• Begriff der Sorge: Was bedeutet Care in der heutigen Gesellschaft?
• Installationen, Workshops und Videoinstallationen zum Thema Care-Arbeit.
• Kinderkonzert und Ruhezonen zum Wickeln und Durchatmen.
• Keine Anmeldung erforderlich, alle sind herzlich eingeladen.

The project, which is also funded by the Closeup Bremen media scholarship, is not only a platform for discussion, but also a step towards equality. It is time for care and care work to be given the status in our society that they deserve. Stop by and think about what an inclusive city that also takes the needs of young families into account could look like. Because as the saying goes: When everyone lends a hand, great things are often achieved!