Mapping Invisible Work: Conceptual Tools for Social Justice Projects

Feminist scholars developed the concept of “invisible work” in the 1980s to bring sociological attention to work that was unpaid, unrecognized, or undervalued. Since then, it has become clear that the “generous” concept of work can be applied more broadly and that bringing invisible work into view may help to advance projects of social justice and inclusion. Drawing on the example of healthcare access for deaf patients, this article explores strategies for deploying the generous concept of work in institutional analysis.