Elza Lāma: Care work is invisible but essential for Latvia's existence
Leading researcher of Rīga Stradiņš University Elza Lāma highlights the importance of unpaid care work, mostly done by women, and criticizes politicians' narrow understanding of 'honest work'.
Elza Lāma, a leading researcher at Rīga Stradiņš University, in her opinion piece calls for rethinking what society considers valuable and honest work. She points out that politicians' statements, especially the prime minister's remark about the 'dad-mom' role, reveal a deeper problem – unpaid care work, mostly done by women, remains invisible and undervalued.
Lāma emphasizes that everyday care – childcare, elderly care, housework, cooking, community activities – is work that creates and sustains life. However, this work is often taken for granted and unpaid. She notes that in Latvia, women, alongside full-time paid work, often perform a 'second' or 'third' shift without pay, while enjoying less influence and respect.
The researcher criticizes the government's budget cuts in culture, education, and science, questioning what kind of Latvia we are defending if we fail to see the value in these sectors. She asks whether we are protecting only economic assets, ignoring what makes life meaningful – innovative science, inclusive culture, and socially active people.
