Revising social inclusion to take account of care

Social inclusion is a contested concept that identifies the basis for social membership and valued activities in any society. Within social inclusion assessments, care is often overlooked or perceived to be a risk factor for exclusion and a barrier to inclusion. Drawing on ideas from care theories, the authors argue that social inclusion needs revising to take account of care. While the idea of social inclusion can underscore the structures, mechanisms and practices that underpin socially generated care inequalities, revisions are necessary to incorporate insights from care theories and to provide an adequate assessment of carers' social inclusion.