Lecture by Jason Rodriquez: 'Dignity and Emotional Labor in Care Work' (April 12th)

We are happy to inform you that the chair Citizenship and Humanization of the Public Sector is organizing this year’s Graduate School Conference on Dignity and Emotional Labor in Care Work.

Date: Thursday April 12th 

Time: 10:00 -12:30

Location: Room 1.40, University of Humanistic Studies, Kromme Nieuwegracht 29, Utrecht

Free entry - but please register by sending an email to GS-conference@uvh.nl
Language: English

Jason Rodriquez (University of Massachusetts) will talk about his book, Labors of Love. Nursing homes and the structure of care work in which he examines how organizational dynamics shape nursing home care. The regulatory system normalizes chronic understaffing and work overload, turning residents into an embodiment of reimbursable activities. A perfect show for the Inspectorate hides quality issues and onerous workplace conditions from view. Nevertheless, staff members who did not leave for better jobs develop emotional strategies to make their work meaningful, resist management and protect dignity of nursing home residents. They do so in ways, however, that make them vulnerable to exploitation.  Two distinguished Dutch scholars (to be announced) will respond to his lecture.

Biographical note: Jason Rodriquez's research aims to understand the organizational dynamics of health care provision. In particular he focuses on how care workers give meaning to their labor, and in turn how those meanings are shaped by organizations. In pursuing these issues, he does primarily ethnographic research in institutional settings such as nursing homes and hospitals. His book, Labors of Love, for example, examines how the fee-for-service payment system shapes nursing home care. His most recent project examines the construction of teamwork in an intensive care unit at an academic medical center. 

Co-referee:
Hester van de Bovenkamp will respond to the keynote lecture. Hester is an associate professor in the Health Care Governance department of Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) at the Erasmus University. 

Lecture:
Ruud Hendriks (Maastricht University) will talk about body-sensitive approaches in dementia care. These include creative and artistic approaches (such as in theatre, visual arts, storytelling and clowning). Recognition of people’s bodily potentials opens up new opportunities to connect with people with dementia in respectful and honest ways. However, it also makes people with dementia vulnerable to new forms of disrespect.

Programme 10.00 – 14.00 

10:00-10.30:   Arrival, coffee and tea
10.30-11.20:   Keynote lecture by Jason Rodriquez
11.20 - 11.45:  Co referee by Hester van Bovenkamp , Q& A

11.45-12.00: Coffeebreak

12.00-12.50: Lecture by Ruud Hendriks, Q&A

12.50 - 13.00 Response by Jason Rodriquez
13.00 - 14.00 Lunch break with poster presentations by PhDs