Mutualismo asimmetrico e surplus emotivo nel lavoro di cura. Il caso delle donne con background migratorio

The concept of mutualism typically implies a foundation of reciprocity that is a notion of just and balanced exchange. Yet, within mutualistic relations, particular- ly in the realm of care work, “value” manifests in divergent forms with varying degrees of visibility and significance. This paper approaches care labor through a gendered perspective, probing the specific “value” exchanged in relationships be- tween predominantly female employers and caregivers with migrant backgrounds. This value transcends the purely transactional, encompassing a realm of cultural, emotional and affective dimensions. The “surplus” generated in paid care work re- sists reduction to the commodified outputs of traditional labor. Instead, it embod- ies a complex interplay of personal emotions and socio-cultural contributions, chal- lenging established divisions between productive and reproductive work, as well as traditional Marxist notions of economic surplus. This paper proposes and de- fends the concept of asymmetric mutualism, a framework that recognizes caregiv- ing as embedded in asymmetrical changing power relations and fluctuating hier- archies, illuminating the tension between economic surplus and emotional/ affec- tive value. The dynamics of care labor unveil profound contradictions within the intimate and intercultural exchanges that define our globalized socio-political land- scape – an order that not only interacts with but is sustained by “otherness”. While these exchanges contain potential for mutual growth and understanding, they simul- taneously expose an escalating depletion of emotional resources and an intensify- ing poverty – both material and immaterial – that disproportionately affects care- givers, while also reverberating across local communities and impacting society as a whole.