ABSTRACT
Occupations related to the provision of welfare, such as those of nurse and midwife, have long been regarded as specialist occupations for women workers. However, the need for workers in welfare goes far beyond the tasks performed by this kind of qualified specialist, a need which has led long since to the appearance of women working as domestic workers (home helps) or ‘care assistants’ (practical nurses, tsukisoifu). They are what are called ‘workers doing unskilled work’, employed through the medium of public or private employment agencies to look after the physical needs of patients at home or in hospitals.
