Research projects

Plataformización del Ecosistema de Cuidados. Un Análisis Feminista e Interseccional (CAREFEM)

PID2023-146669OB-I00 (2024-2027) Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación

Principal Investigator: Paula Rodríguez-Modroño

Members: Antonio Santos Ortega (UV), Julia Espinosa Fajardo (US), David Muñoz Rodriguez (UV), Astrid Agenjo Caledrón (UPO), Angela Medina (UV), Uma Rani (ILO, SW), Annarosa Pesole (ILO, SW), Ivana Pais (Univ Sacro Cuore Milan, IT),  Francesco Bonifacio (Univ Sacro Cuore Milan, IT), Maud Perrier (Univ of Bristol, GB), Ruth Castel-Branco (Univ of the Witwatersrand, SA), Nirvana Pillay (Univ of the Witwatersrand, SA), Nancy Coulson (Univ of the Witwatersrand, SA), Irem Güney-Frahm (Leuphana Univ, DEU), Lorena Poblete (Conicet, ARG) & Francisca Pereyra (Conicet, ARG).

Platformization of the Healthcare Ecosystem. A Feminist and Intersectional Analysis

One of the industries where digital platforms have entered more extensively is that of healthcare services, due to the rising demand for commodified care services in all ageing societies. Platforms try to position themselves as a viable response to the care crisis, yet have been decried for driving down wages and exposing workers, mainly women and migrants, to greater risk and precarity. Researchers have speculated that the emergence of digital care platforms could potentially improve the conditions of domestic carers by creating visibility for carers, benefiting low-income earners and contributing to the destigmatization of home-based care work. Yet, at the same time, there is a risk of (re)producing existing decent work deficits and problematic conditions. 

Therefore, the first objective of this study is to study the transformations in healthcare labour markets brought by platform economy and its impacts on formalization, remuneration, quality of work, social protection or skill development. Second, since platforms adapt to the different industries and institutional contexts and operate in different ways, our international comparative study in six countries (Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, Argentina and South Africa) will allow us to explore how platforms operate in different regulatory contexts, institutional arrangements, and gender and care regimes. Third, the multidisciplinarity of the international team and its direct links with labor institutions will help to contribute to the global debates on the challenges posed to international and national governments, regulators and trade unions by the gig economy. Our results will inform the design of international and national regulations to improve platform care work and healthcare work.

The CAREFEM project is within the thematic area of Social Sciences (CSO) and within this in the main sub-area of Feminist, Women's and Gender Studies (FEM). It has a multidisciplinary character between feminist studies, labour studies, welfare studies and intersectional socioeconomic inequalities. 

Research bio

She has participated in more than 50 international and national research projects (14 EU projects). She was awarded the Meridiana Prize for her research on gender equality and the X Research Prize of the CES-Andalucía. 

She has been the principal investigator of three competitive Spanish projects "CAREFEM: Platformization of the Healthcare Ecosystem. A Feminist and Intersectional Analysis", (2024-2027), "GENDER4REV: The future of work from a gender perspective: women in the 4th Industrial Revolution" (2020-2023) and “Employment crisis and transformations in geder inequalities: an analysis of time use" (2015-2019) . 

She has coordinated the Spanish teams of several European and international projects, such as ‘Advances and challenges of labour participation policies for women in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe’ (EU-LAC Foundation), School and the World for Work (Comenius EU), Centauro (Leonardo, EU), Social on Business & Emprende + Innova (Interreg III, EU).

Editor of Revista de Economía Crítica (REC) since 2016, and member of the Scientific Committee of Economic History Research (2021-23).

Other current projects

• RE-FEM, Upskilling pathways for REsiliency in the post-Covid era for FEMale Entrepreneurs. Erasmus +, EU 2022-1-HU01-KA220-ADU-000089295, 2022-25

• COST Action CA21118 “Platform Work Inclusion Living Lab” (P-WILL), 2022-2026.

• GE&PA - Gender Equality & Public Administration. University of Modena & Reggio Emilia.

Past projects

• Avances y desafíos de las políticas que promueven la participación laboral de mujeres en América Latina, Caribe y Europa en el contexto de la recuperación económica post-pandemia, EULAC Foundation, 2021. Coordinator

• GENDER4REV. A gendered future of work: women in the 4th Industrial Revolution. PID2019-105835RB-I00, Spanish Research Agency, 2020-2023. Principal investigator

• Work-life balance in the digital era. PRY074/19, CENTRA, 2020-22. Principal investigator

• Dynamics of Gender Inequality in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF). Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), 2017-18.

• Employment crisis and changes in gender inequalities: an analysis of time use. CSO2014-58378-R. Spanish Research Programme, 2015-2018. Principal investigator

• Employment policies in Times of Crisis in Brazil and Spain. Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão – Fapema, 2016-2018.

• Gender Equality in Employment in Brazil and Spain. Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão – Fapema, 2016-18.

• Children and wellbeing from a capabilities approach. Andalusian Research Plan, 2014-2017.

• Mechanism for Enhancement of Synergy and Sustainability among Enterprises. PEOPLE, INTERREG IVC, European Union, 2012-2014.

• Employment and social sustainability: analysis of long-term care. CENTRA, 2011-12.

• Promotion of the social and labour integrated companies. PEOPLE, INTERREG IVC, European Union, 2010-2011.

• Care economy in Andalucia. Andalusian Research Plan, 2009-12.

• Spanish labour market, unpaid care work and work-life balance. Spanish Research Programme, 2009-11. 

• Measuring interaction between quality of life, children well-being, work and public policies. FCR R&D&i, European Union, 2009-11.

• Equality in the labour market. Andalusian Research Plan, 2007-10.

• School and the World for Work. Lifelong Learning Programme – Comenius Networks, European Union, 2007-2010. Coordinator of the Spanish team

• Gender and Well-Being: Interaction Between Work, Family and Public Policies. COST-Action, European Science Foundation, 2005-09.

• Aprendiendo a usar el tiempo de forma diferenciada: Género, bienestar y capacidades en los jóvenes andaluces. CENTRA, 2007.

• Centauro. Leonardo da Vinci, European Union, 2006-08. Coordinator

• Picasso. Leonardo da Vinci, European Union, 2006-10. Coordinator

• Rear Window Transparent qualifications in the engineering sector. Leonardo da Vinci, European Union, 2006-08 Coordinator of the Spanish team.

• Social on Business. A model of entrepreneurship for the socially excluded. GROW, INTERREG IIIC, European Union, 2006-07. Coordinator of the Spanish team

• Fenix. Equal (FSE), European Union, 2006-07.

• Emprende + Innova. INTERREG IIIB SUDOE, European Union, 2006-07.

• Social capital and intellectual capital. Regional government, 2005-06. Coordinator

• Forum The new social contract. Regional government, 2004-06. Coordinator

• Job seeking methods: social networks and employment programs. Regional government, 2004-05. Coordinator

• The role of social capital in employment growth. Regional government, 2003-04. Coordinator

• Employment in the R&D sector in Andalucia. Regional government, 2003-04.

• Updating MEANS Handbook. Regional Policy DG, European Union, 2002-03.

• Women in Andalusian digital economy. Regional government, 2002-03. 

• Female entrepreneurs. Regional government, 2000-01. Coordinator

• Interdisciplinary Integration in the Fifth Framework Programme. DG Research, European Union, 2000-02.

• Foresight for Regional Development Network. Fifth Framework Programme, European Union, 2000-02.