A summary of for love or for money – or both? by Nancy Folbre and Julie A. Nelson

Abstract

Nancy Folbre and Julie Nelson study the shift from non‐market to market labour in the contemporary society, of the United States of America (US). The consequences are far reaching with regard to social care, economics and the link between the consequences of women shifting from family and social relationship building to paid labour in the market. The authors see this as a change in the “social contract”. The move of women, previously responsible for the “emotional” dimension of society (child care, social relationships, homemakers), from their traditional roles to paid jobs in the market is the underlying issue and they describe it in a trite and dynamic phrase – “For Love or For Money”.