Presentation short abstract

This paper analyzes reproductive labor associated with the energy transition. It proposes an analytical framework for mapping reproductive labor for the extraction of lithium and copper in Chile, and for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries in Sweden. Ultimately, it offers empirical insights for

Presentation long abstract

In this study we illustrate how a feminist approach is highly relevant to analyze the energy transition because reproductive labor, the labor associated with sustaining the living conditions of the workforce, is often disregarded and rendered invisible in discussions of just transition, yet it is fundamentally powering this process. Grounded in a feminist approach, this paper analyses labor relations that are directly or indirectly connected to these industries and draws attention to the often-overlooked reproductive labor that sustains them. In doing so, this paper makes two key contributions: it proposes an analytical framework for mapping reproductive labor necessary for the extraction and export of lithium and copper in the region of Antofagasta, Chile, as well as the one needed for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries in Skellefteå, Sweden. This paper offers empirically grounded insights that call for a reconceptualization of justice in energy transitions, that pays attention to reproductive labor and the persistence of exploitative labor regimes.