theklaa quoted How Infrastructure Works by Deb Chachra
Infrastructure is how we care for each other at scale
I read the book more than a year ago so this is entirely from memory, but I think the message is pretty clear.
Infrastructural systems are often big and require the labor of many people to build and maintain. But in exchange, they can provide for a vast number of people fresh water, transportation, and generally mechanized labor that augments and outstrips what we each could provide individually, often, as Chachra says, replacing forms of gendered and devalued labor like gathering drinking water. it frees us from all manner of menial tasks so we can direct our attention where it matters to us, and care for each other individually.
in this way, infrastructure is care work. we have no option but to trust in it, rely on it. we need the water to drink, the electricity or gas to stay warm, the bus to get home. it's a collective effort ā¦
I read the book more than a year ago so this is entirely from memory, but I think the message is pretty clear.
Infrastructural systems are often big and require the labor of many people to build and maintain. But in exchange, they can provide for a vast number of people fresh water, transportation, and generally mechanized labor that augments and outstrips what we each could provide individually, often, as Chachra says, replacing forms of gendered and devalued labor like gathering drinking water. it frees us from all manner of menial tasks so we can direct our attention where it matters to us, and care for each other individually.
in this way, infrastructure is care work. we have no option but to trust in it, rely on it. we need the water to drink, the electricity or gas to stay warm, the bus to get home. it's a collective effort to get our collective needs met. it's why the Berlin transit authority's tagline is "because we love you". because, as the quote says, it's how we care for each other at scale.
it's a good book, ma'am.
