Childcare in the Cono Sur – The Cases of Chile and Uruguay

Abstract

Care work for persons requiring care plays a central role in the process of social reproduction. This care work is globally mainly done by families and especially by women, and Latin America is no exception. In recent years, however, many governments in the region have developed policies to address these needs on the part of public policy. This article compares recent reforms and policies regarding the care for children aged 0-5 years in the two Latin American countries Chile and Uruguay. It also analyses how these measures affect childcare models and whether they reinforce or change different varieties of familialism as well as certain aspects of social justice and gender equity in care work.