IJEN Poo: I was raised by a set of very strong women in an immigrant family. And they were my first caregivers, and all I ever wanted was to be just like them. When he grew older and lost his sight, he needed more care; that's partly also what informed my passion for this work. She says we need "systemic solutions" so people don't internalize the challenges as personal problems or failures.
Activist, and MacArthur Genius, Ai-jen Poo believes that caring for others is one of the fundamental acts that make us human. But from nannies to elder-care workers, house cleaners to living assistants, single parents and beyond, globally, caretakers do not earn fair wages or recognition for their essential, life-giving labor. The President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Ai-jen explains how society undervalues domestic work, and provides a framework on how we can start a conversation about the future of care for our loved ones – and ourselves. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts