The aim of the DISC project is to highlight care as a fundamental social responsibility that should be shared equally, recognised and supported by the state and society. At the same time, the project seeks to challenge gender stereotypes that associate care primarily with women and promote a fairer distribution of care responsibilities.

In this context, hundreds of people took part in the programme’s activities, including experiential educational workshops and forum theatre performances, and shared with us their experiences, needs and proposals around care. DISC seeks to bring these voices into the public debate and build bridges between participants, advocacy groups, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders. In this way, the experiences and proposals emerging ‘from the ground up’ can make a meaningful contribution to the discussion and development of the necessary changes in care and gender equality policies.

It is precisely this transition from experience to advocacy, and from participation to policymaking, that this Policy Brief seeks to support. The Policy Brief is structured around three main sections. The first presents the methodology and participatory processes through which the needs and proposals of DISC participants were identified. The second examines care as an issue of public policy, equality and labour rights, highlighting the need to move towards a new model for the organisation of the care economy and care provision. The third section, “From Invisible Work to the Economy and Democracy of Care”, sets out the key policy directions and recommendations for a fairer, collective and inclusive care system.

Authors:

• Anna Vougiouka, Social Scientist, Researcher and Gender Expert / Centre Diotima
• Katerina Sergidou, Gender and Feminist Studies Researcher and Trainer / Centre Diotima

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The project “DISC – Theatre-educational interventions on gender stereotypes and the equal sharing of care” is implemented by the Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network and the Diotima Centre within the framework of the CERV-2024-GE Programme, from November 2024 to October 2026, co-funded by the European Commission. Partner organizations include the Municipality of Athens and the Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR).

Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.