The Lie of Pandemic Pivot and Essential Work

Authors

Alexandra Crampton, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2021

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Source Publication

Qualitative Social Work

Source ISSN

1473-3250

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1177/1473325020973394

Abstract

My emotional responses to this moment include feelings of anger, hope, and déjà vu. Although the scope and scale of this pandemic is unprecedented in our lifetimes, what has been especially hard is not necessarily new – nor entirely unprecedented – and therefore unavoidable. In this essay, I reflect on what was avoidable and call for better response. We must question the seemingly benign (if not optimistic) terms emerging as pandemic discourse, such as “pivot to a new normal” and “essential work,” for what they reveal of social injustice and failure to avert future crisis.

Comments

Accepted version. Qualitative Social Work, Vol. 20, No. 1-2 (January-March 2021): 193-199. DOI. © 2021 SAGE Publications. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Crampton, Alexandra, "The Lie of Pandemic Pivot and Essential Work" (2021). Social and Cultural Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 315.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/socs_fac/315