Pérez Orozco and the Feminist Subversion of Economics
The intersection of gender, sustainability, and economic theory is a critical field of study that challenges how society values labor. At the forefront of this discourse is Pérez Orozco, an economist whose work seeks to redefine the foundations of economic systems to better support human life and environmental health.
Academic Foundation and Specialization
Pérez Orozco began her academic journey at the Charles III University of Madrid, where she focused her studies on feminist and environmental economics. This dual focus laid the groundwork for her later research into how economic structures often overlook the ecological and social costs of production.
She furthered her expertise by obtaining a doctorate in International and Development Economics from the Complutense University of Madrid. Her doctoral thesis, titled Perspectivas feministas en torno a la economia. El caso de los cuidados (Feminist perspectives on the economy: The case of care), specifically analyzed care work—the unpaid or underpaid labor involved in looking after children, the elderly, and the home—through the lens of feminist economics.
Professional Contributions and Global Impact
Following her PhD, Pérez Orozco served as a professor of Applied Economics at the Complutense University of Madrid. Her influence extended beyond the classroom into international policy and research. She collaborated with the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, where she focused on the organization of care-intensive labor markets.
During her tenure with the United Nations, she published significant work on global care chains, which refers to the network of paid and unpaid care work that connects people across different nations, often involving migrant workers from poorer countries providing care in wealthier ones.
The Theory of Feminist Subversion
Pérez Orozco's academic contributions center on feminist economic theory and the economic theory of sustainable living and markets. In 2014, she published her influential work, Subversión feminista de la economía (A feminist subversion of the economy).
In this text, she argues for a comprehensive restructuring of labor markets to prioritize the sustainability of human life over traditional profit metrics. A central pillar of her proposal is the formal recognition and payment of labor essential to human survival—such as child care and food preparation—which currently remains largely unpaid. She highlights that these essential tasks are disproportionately performed by women globally, making the invisibility of this labor a core feminist economic issue.
Key Facts
- Academic Focus: Feminist economics, environmental economics, and sustainable living.
- Key Publication: Subversión feminista de la economía (2014).
- Core Argument: Labor markets should be restructured to pay for essential life-sustaining work, such as care and food preparation.
- International Work: Published research on global care chains for the United Nations.
- Activism: Signed the 2022 "Feminist Resistance Against War: A Manifesto" in support of the Russian Feminist Anti-War Resistance.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | Charles III University of Madrid; Complutense University of Madrid (PhD) |
| Specialization | International and Development Economics |
| Key Research Areas | Care work, sustainable markets, and feminist economic theory |
| Institutional Affiliations | Complutense University of Madrid, United Nations (IRTAW) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main goal of Pérez Orozco's "feminist subversion of the economy"?
The goal is to re-imagine and restructure labor markets so that they prioritize the sustainability of human life, specifically by providing payment for essential but often unpaid labor like care work and food preparation.
What are global care chains?
Global care chains are the organized networks of care-intensive labor that often involve the movement of care workers from one country to another to meet the needs of families in different economic regions.
Why does Pérez Orozco link care work to feminist economics?
She links them because the essential, unpaid labor required to maintain human life is disproportionately performed by women worldwide, leading to economic invisibility and inequality.
What is the focus of her doctoral thesis?
Her thesis, Perspectivas feministas en torno a la economia. El caso de los cuidados, examined the specific case of care work from a feminist economic perspective.
Has Pérez Orozco been involved in political activism?
Yes, in March 2022, she was one of 151 international feminists who signed the "Feminist Resistance Against War: A Manifesto" to show solidarity with the Russian Feminist Anti-War Resistance.