Racism, racialization, and health equity in Canadian residential long term care: A case study in Toronto

Abstract

To date, most of the interdisciplinary scholarly literature pertaining to care work and labor studies of marginalized groups, such as women, visible minorities, and immigrants, has focused on emotional labor as well as concerns about high stress and high turnover. However, few mention racism and racialization. Using a single-case study research design of a long term care ("LTC") home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this paper contributes to our understanding of racism and racialization by analyzing participants' experiences of work. It documents how particular social determinants of health ("SDoH"), such as race and racialization, can manifest themselves in the lives of workers. Drawing on critical race theory and feminist political economy, this study examines the ways in which the participants discuss their experiences of care work, with closer attention to racism and racialization.

Keywords: Anti-racism; Care work; Feminist political economy; Health equity; Occupational health; Social determinants of health; Working conditions; Workplace violence.