American International Journal of Social Science

Global Care Chains, Commodity Chains, and the Valuation of Care: A Theoretical Discussion
Maggie FitzGerald Murphy

Abstract
While the literature on global care chains is vast and diverse, the theoretical underpinnings of global care chains still require development. One pioneering project to develop such theory can be found in the work of Nicola Yeates. This paper argues that Yeates’ work is instructive for both its achievements and its failures. On the one hand, this paper contends that Yeates has contributed to the development of a robust theory which facilitates a feminist reading of global care chains and the many identities that comprise such chains. On the other hand, this paper critiques Yeates’ call to apply global commodity chain analyses to global care chains. Specifically, this paper argues that the use of global commodity chain analysis obfuscates the social relations involved in global care chains, and contributes to the devaluation of care and the care relations which comprise care giving and care receiving.

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