2 - A Case for ‘Prevailing Ecology’ as Premium Determinant in Home-Based Child Care Conceptualisation and Measurements
Corresponding Author(s) : Peter Atakuma Agbodza
African Sociological Review,
Vol. 20 No. 1 (2016): African Sociological Review
Abstract
This paper is based on a 22-month ethnographic study of child care practices of Tongu
Ewe mothers located in Dzemeni a migrant, lakeside community in Ghana. It asserts the
relevance of establishing the ecology for childcare as a premium yardstick within the practice
of conceptualisation and measurement of childcare practices of mothers. It builds a case from
the analysis of definitions and concepts in care literature. Notable among these are the works
of Fisher and Tronto, Folbre, Longhurst, Oppong, Van Esterik among others. These are
juxtaposed against the definitions and conceptual frameworks used to analyse child care in the
Dzemeni study. The ethics of care framework propounded by Fisher and Tronto (1990) and
the conceptual framework on care developed in 1995 by the UNICEF/Cornell University are
examined in terms of their suitability as ‘models’ for assessing childcare practices universally.
The paper proposes a re-evaluation of the tools of assessment of home-based child care costs in
order to be able to construct a more encompassing framework.
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- Barfield, T. (ed.) (1997) The Dictionary of Anthropology, Malden, MA: Blackwell Daily Graphic, August 5, 2013, No.: 19220, Accra: Graphic Communications Grod. Farquhar, S. (1990) ‘Defining Quality in the Evaluation of Early Childhood Programs’, Australian Journal of Early Childhood, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 16-23.
- Fisher, B. and J. Tronto (1990) ‘Toward a Feminist Theory of Caring’ In E. K. Abel and M. K. Nelson (eds.) (1990) Circles of Care: Work and Identity in Women’s Lives, Albany, NY: State University of New York.
- Folbre, N. (2006) ‘Measuring Care: Gender, Empowerment and the Care Economy’, Journal of Human Development, Vol. 7, No. 2, July 2006.
- Folbre, N. (2004) ‘Questioning Care Economics’ In K. Wærness (ed.) (2004) Dialogue on Care, Vol.16, Bergen: Centre for Women’s and Gender Research, Univ. ofrgen.
- Folbre, N. (1999) ‘The Invisible Heart- Care and the Global Economy’ Human Development Report, 1999, New York: UN
- Geker, J. (1999) ‘The effects of the Volta Dam on the People of the Lower Volta’ In C. Gordon and J. K. Amematekpor (eds.) The Sustainable Integrated Development of the Volta Basin in Ghana, Accra: Volta Basin Research Project, Univ. of Ghana
- Gordon, G. (1975) ‘Nutrition Education in the Upper Region: A Help or a Games?’ In L. E. Engberg (ed.) Legon Family Research Papers, No. 4, Legon, Accra: I. A. S. Latham, M. (1995) “UNICEF-Cornell Colloquium on Care and Nutrition of the Young Child Overview”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, Vol. 16, No. 4, 1995, Tokyo: UNU Press.
- Lawson, G. W. (1963) ‘Volta Basin Research Project’, Nature, Vol. 199, August 31, 1963 Lawson, R.
- M. (1961) ‘The Development of the Lower Volta’, The Economic Bulletin, 7 (4) Lawson, R. M (1963)
- The economic organization of the egaria fishing industry in the River Volta’, (Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London), Vol. 35, Part 6
- Lawson, R. M. (1968) ‘Process of Rural Economic Growth: A case study of the change from static to a
- transitional economy in the Lower Volta of Ghana, 1954-1967’, Volta Basin Research Project Technical Report, No 10 (27).
- Lawson, R. M. (1972) The Changing Economy of the Lower Volta, 1954-67, London: OUP Longhurst, R.
- (1995) “Nutrition and care of young children under emergencies”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 1995, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 407-12, Tokyo: UNU Press Moss, P. and A. Pence (eds.) (1994) Valuing quality in early childhood services, London: Paul Chapman
- Noddings, N. (1984) ‘Caring’ In Held, V. (ed.) (1995) Justice and care: essential readings in feminist ethics, Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press Nukunya, G. K. (1969) Kinship and Marriage Among the Anlo Ewe, London: The Athlone Press Oppong, C. (2001) ‘Globalization and the Disruption of Mother Care’, In M. E. Kropp Dakubu (ed.), Research Review, (New Series), Vol. 17, No. 1, (pp. 25-47) Accra: Institute of African Studies,Legon
- Oppong, C. (1999) ‘Infants’ Entitlements and Babies Capabilities: Explaining Infant Hunger’ In M. E. KroppDakubu (ed.), Research Review, (New Series), Vol. 15, No. 2, (pp. 35-63), Accra: Institute of African Studies, Legon Ruel, M. T. and M. Arimond (2003) “Measuring Child care Practices: Approaches, Indicators, and Implications for Programs”, Food Policy Review 6, Washington: IFPRI Scott, J. and G. Marshall (eds.) (2005) Oxford Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed., Oxford: OUP Sudarkasa, N. (2004) ‘Conceptions of motherhood in Nuclear and extended families, to comparative studies involving African societies, Africa
- Resource Centre’, JENdA, A Journal of Culture and African Women Studies, Issue Thomas, C. (1993) ‘De-Constructing Concepts of Care’, Sociology, Vol. 27, No. 4, November 1993, 649-669, Sage Pub. http://soc.sagepub.com/cgi/content/ abstract/27/4/649 Tsikata, D. (2006) Living in the Shadow of the Large Dams: Long Term Responses of Downstream and Lakeside Communities of Ghana’s Volta River Project, Leiden: Brill UNICEF (1987) The State of the World’s Children 1987 Report: New York: UNICEF Van Esterik, P. (1995) “Care, Care giving, and Caregivers” Food and Nutrition Bulletin (1995), Vol. 16, No. 4, Tokyo: UNU Press
- Winkvist, A. (1995) “Health and Nutrition status of the Caregiver: Effect on Care giving capacity”,
- Food and Nutrition Bulletin, (1995) Vol. 16, No. 4, Tokyo: UNU Press Yovsi, R.D. (2003) Ethnotheories about Breastfeeding and Mother-Infant Interaction, Hamburg: Lit Verlag Munster
- Zeitlin, M. F. and R. Megawangi (1995) “Modernization, Urbanization and Nutritional Care”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin (1995), Vol. 16, No. 4, Tokyo: UNU Press.
- Online source: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/gender-ministry-to-increase-leap- seholds.html (Accessed: December 3, 2016).
References
Barfield, T. (ed.) (1997) The Dictionary of Anthropology, Malden, MA: Blackwell Daily Graphic, August 5, 2013, No.: 19220, Accra: Graphic Communications Grod. Farquhar, S. (1990) ‘Defining Quality in the Evaluation of Early Childhood Programs’, Australian Journal of Early Childhood, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 16-23.
Fisher, B. and J. Tronto (1990) ‘Toward a Feminist Theory of Caring’ In E. K. Abel and M. K. Nelson (eds.) (1990) Circles of Care: Work and Identity in Women’s Lives, Albany, NY: State University of New York.
Folbre, N. (2006) ‘Measuring Care: Gender, Empowerment and the Care Economy’, Journal of Human Development, Vol. 7, No. 2, July 2006.
Folbre, N. (2004) ‘Questioning Care Economics’ In K. Wærness (ed.) (2004) Dialogue on Care, Vol.16, Bergen: Centre for Women’s and Gender Research, Univ. ofrgen.
Folbre, N. (1999) ‘The Invisible Heart- Care and the Global Economy’ Human Development Report, 1999, New York: UN
Geker, J. (1999) ‘The effects of the Volta Dam on the People of the Lower Volta’ In C. Gordon and J. K. Amematekpor (eds.) The Sustainable Integrated Development of the Volta Basin in Ghana, Accra: Volta Basin Research Project, Univ. of Ghana
Gordon, G. (1975) ‘Nutrition Education in the Upper Region: A Help or a Games?’ In L. E. Engberg (ed.) Legon Family Research Papers, No. 4, Legon, Accra: I. A. S. Latham, M. (1995) “UNICEF-Cornell Colloquium on Care and Nutrition of the Young Child Overview”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, Vol. 16, No. 4, 1995, Tokyo: UNU Press.
Lawson, G. W. (1963) ‘Volta Basin Research Project’, Nature, Vol. 199, August 31, 1963 Lawson, R.
M. (1961) ‘The Development of the Lower Volta’, The Economic Bulletin, 7 (4) Lawson, R. M (1963)
The economic organization of the egaria fishing industry in the River Volta’, (Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London), Vol. 35, Part 6
Lawson, R. M. (1968) ‘Process of Rural Economic Growth: A case study of the change from static to a
transitional economy in the Lower Volta of Ghana, 1954-1967’, Volta Basin Research Project Technical Report, No 10 (27).
Lawson, R. M. (1972) The Changing Economy of the Lower Volta, 1954-67, London: OUP Longhurst, R.
(1995) “Nutrition and care of young children under emergencies”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 1995, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 407-12, Tokyo: UNU Press Moss, P. and A. Pence (eds.) (1994) Valuing quality in early childhood services, London: Paul Chapman
Noddings, N. (1984) ‘Caring’ In Held, V. (ed.) (1995) Justice and care: essential readings in feminist ethics, Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press Nukunya, G. K. (1969) Kinship and Marriage Among the Anlo Ewe, London: The Athlone Press Oppong, C. (2001) ‘Globalization and the Disruption of Mother Care’, In M. E. Kropp Dakubu (ed.), Research Review, (New Series), Vol. 17, No. 1, (pp. 25-47) Accra: Institute of African Studies,Legon
Oppong, C. (1999) ‘Infants’ Entitlements and Babies Capabilities: Explaining Infant Hunger’ In M. E. KroppDakubu (ed.), Research Review, (New Series), Vol. 15, No. 2, (pp. 35-63), Accra: Institute of African Studies, Legon Ruel, M. T. and M. Arimond (2003) “Measuring Child care Practices: Approaches, Indicators, and Implications for Programs”, Food Policy Review 6, Washington: IFPRI Scott, J. and G. Marshall (eds.) (2005) Oxford Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed., Oxford: OUP Sudarkasa, N. (2004) ‘Conceptions of motherhood in Nuclear and extended families, to comparative studies involving African societies, Africa
Resource Centre’, JENdA, A Journal of Culture and African Women Studies, Issue Thomas, C. (1993) ‘De-Constructing Concepts of Care’, Sociology, Vol. 27, No. 4, November 1993, 649-669, Sage Pub. http://soc.sagepub.com/cgi/content/ abstract/27/4/649 Tsikata, D. (2006) Living in the Shadow of the Large Dams: Long Term Responses of Downstream and Lakeside Communities of Ghana’s Volta River Project, Leiden: Brill UNICEF (1987) The State of the World’s Children 1987 Report: New York: UNICEF Van Esterik, P. (1995) “Care, Care giving, and Caregivers” Food and Nutrition Bulletin (1995), Vol. 16, No. 4, Tokyo: UNU Press
Winkvist, A. (1995) “Health and Nutrition status of the Caregiver: Effect on Care giving capacity”,
Food and Nutrition Bulletin, (1995) Vol. 16, No. 4, Tokyo: UNU Press Yovsi, R.D. (2003) Ethnotheories about Breastfeeding and Mother-Infant Interaction, Hamburg: Lit Verlag Munster
Zeitlin, M. F. and R. Megawangi (1995) “Modernization, Urbanization and Nutritional Care”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin (1995), Vol. 16, No. 4, Tokyo: UNU Press.
Online source: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/gender-ministry-to-increase-leap- seholds.html (Accessed: December 3, 2016).