What is care and what is not caring? The challenges of cultural diversity

Abstract

This article uses evidence from Peru to examine issues of care and its absence, both in the sense of "giving care" and concern with someone or something. The two cases analyzed bring into consideration separate couples trying to agree on the care obligations of non-custodial male fathers and the distance between the care practices of indigenous Amazonians and urban Peruvian society. The discussion highlights emotions, motivations, systems of morality, and cultural identities that support care and define the lines beyond which denial of care may be inevitable and even defensible. The argument points to privileged status of hope as an emotion of particular importance in systems of care on a personal and collective level and also with respect to States and national policies.