Abstract
This essay explores the structural devaluation of care work within capitalist societies through an intersectional feminist lens, highlighting its continued association with women and its marginalization both economically and socially. Despite its foundational role in social reproduction, care labor remains underpaid, invisible, and outsourced – often to women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Drawing on feminist theorists such as Federici, Fraser, and Tronto, the essay frames care not merely as private labor but as a political and societal necessity. It further examines how caring masculinities challenge hegemonic male norms and open paths toward a more equitable distribution of care responsibilities. The essay argues for systemic change through reduced working hours, gender‑transformative policies, and a cultural shift in the perception of masculinity. Ultimately, care is envisioned as a transformative principle for building a more just, democratic, and sustainable society.