The 18th Kilbrandon Lecture (University of Strathclyde, 18 February 2021): Labours of love: the crisis of care

This lecture was arranged during the COVID-19 pandemic and during a period of government-imposed restrictions to normal life. Only essential shops were open. Schools, colleges and universities were mostly closed, and learning moved online. The lecture itself was live-streamed, as a webinar, to an audience of around 500 watching from their own homes. The lecture was based on Ms Bunting's research for her 2020 book, 'Labours of Love: The Crisis of Care'. She spoke about how care has been marginalised and the skills required to perform it widely undervalued, even by carers themselves. The pandemic brought the work of carers to centre-stage. While health and social care services had been underfunded for decades, a war-chest was found to fight the virus and its consequences. Ms Bunting pointed out that the vast amount of caring work, paid and unpaid, falls to women. 'Care is the feminist issue; it profoundly shapes women's lives at home and at work.' The lecture was followed by commentaries by University of Strathclyde academics Dr Graham Connelly and Dr Laura Steckley, and a vote of thanks by Minister for Children and Early Years in the Scottish Government, Ms Maree Todd MSP.