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- Convenors:
-
Esther Tolorunju
(Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta)
Sarah Edewor (Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Nigeria)
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- Format:
- Paper panel
Short Abstract:
This panel explores how political priorities shape health disparities and food insecurity. It examines the politics of care, highlighting the unequal burdens on women and marginalized groups, and identifies transformative pathways to enhance equity and resilience in health and food systems.
Long Abstract:
The escalating frequency and intensity of crises in the Global South—ranging from climate-induced disasters to economic and political instability—have profoundly disrupted health and food systems. These disruptions are not experienced equally; gendered social structures often place disproportionate burdens on women and marginalized groups, exacerbating existing inequalities. This panel examines the intersection of gender roles, political priorities, health disparities, and food insecurity and explores how crises amplify the vulnerabilities of those tasked with care work, a role predominantly shouldered by women.
Care work, both paid and unpaid, is central to the survival of families and communities during crises, yet it remains undervalued in policy frameworks. Simultaneously, political priorities in many Global South nations often focus on short-term crisis management rather than addressing the systemic inequities that underlie vulnerabilities. This discussion highlights how these dynamics affect health access, nutritional outcomes, and food system resilience, drawing attention to the interconnectedness of care, governance, and development.
The panel invites critical reflections on the politics of care as a pathway for systemic transformation. By centering the lived experiences of women and other marginalized caregivers, it explores strategies to integrate gender-sensitive policies into governance frameworks. Key questions include: How can care work be revalued in political and economic systems? What role can inclusive governance play in mitigating gendered health and food insecurities during crises? The panel welcomes papers that answer these questions and identify actionable pathways toward equitable, sustainable, and resilient health and food systems in the Global South.