Equity Matters: Doing Fairness in the Context of Family Caregiving

Canadian Journal on Aging, Vol. 26 Supplement, No. 1, pp. 91-102, 2007

13 Pages Posted: 31 Dec 2010

See all articles by Margaret Isabel Hall

Margaret Isabel Hall

Simon Fraser University

Bonnie Lashewicz

Grant MacEwan University

Gerald Manning

University of Guelph

Norah Keating

University of Alberta

Date Written: December 30, 2007

Abstract

Although family scholars conceptualize care-giving in terms of networks of carers, little attention has been given to equity within these groups. Siblings comprise a prevalent care-giving network of members who feel responsible for parent care, expect to share these responsibilities with each other, and look to each other to evaluate the fairness of their sharing. In this paper, a multidisciplinary approach is used to examine sibling views of equity in relation to disputes over giving parent care and receiving parent assets. A literary perspective is offered through analysis of step-sibling tensions depicted in the novel Family Matters. Real life disputes among biological siblings that have been pursued through the courts are also examined. Issues arising from these examples are then analysed through the lens of legal doctrines of equity. Siblings evaluating fairness undertake careful comparisons of their respective relationships with parents in terms of biological links to parents and type and extent of influence in interactions with parents.

Keywords: aging, equity, caregiving, siblings, literary, legal, multidisciplinary

Suggested Citation

Hall, Margaret Isabel and Lashewicz, Bonnie and Manning, Gerald and Keating, Norah, Equity Matters: Doing Fairness in the Context of Family Caregiving (December 30, 2007). Canadian Journal on Aging, Vol. 26 Supplement, No. 1, pp. 91-102, 2007 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1732769

Margaret Isabel Hall (Contact Author)

Simon Fraser University ( email )

8888 University Drive
Burnaby, British Columbia
Canada
236 863 0562 (Phone)

Bonnie Lashewicz

Grant MacEwan University ( email )

P.O. Box 1796
Rm 5-256F
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2P2 T5J4S2
Canada

Gerald Manning

University of Guelph

Guelph, Ontario
Canada

Norah Keating

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3
Canada

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