ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the provision of care across family, state, market and the not-for-profit sector. It shows how a gendered pattern of care distribution limits women's work and life choices, and that Cambodian government policies entrench rather than challenge this status quo. The chapter discusses the demographic and historical trends that have shaped the work/care nexus, including women's increased labour force participation, the diversification of employment to manufacturing and the prevalence of informal sector employment. It explores the various institutions that provide care, highlighting the gender norms that underpin the skewed distribution of care provision and the limitations of state and community early childhood care and education programmes. The chapter investigates the challenges generated by the work/care regime for women, highlighting women's preference for low-paid and unsafe informal sector work because of the flexibility it offers in managing the disproportionate work/care balance. The composition of households in Cambodia is also influenced by rural–urban and international labour migration.
