Technosolutionism in Care Work? Myths and Realities of the Digitalization of Care Work.

Myths and promises around the digital transformation of work do also occur beyond sectors that are typically associated with “high-tech” or industry 4.0. With the entry of digital technologies in the field of care and care work, myths, imaginaries, promises and fears surrounding these technologies are appearing. In my contribution, I want to scrutinize the role of technosolutionism (Morozov 2013) in the field of care and care work. Drawing on the concept of technological “Leitbilder” (e.g. Wolf 2021) and empirical data (qualitative interviews, document analysis) on platform mediated cleaning work and digitalization of care work, I analyse the narratives and practices around three technologies: platforms, digital documentation systems and robotics in care. Delving into these narratives and practices for the aforementioned technologies show that i) platforms mediating cleaning work promise a formalization of informal domestic work, but can perpetuate it; ii) digital documentation systems in senior care should lift the burden of analogue documentation, but is putting pressure on the care workers as well; iii) robots in care work should support the overworked staff, but require care and work themselves, such as maintenance and cleaning. Zooming into these contradictions enables both, to confront a technological determinist understanding of the digitalization of work and to understand how these myths are shaped by and shaping the everyday work practices of these workers.