Despite a growing literature on the impacts on mobility patterns of different policy measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, few authors have focused on the lived experiences associated to these changes, particularly in a context of care-related activities in low-income, semi-formal communities in the urban periphery outside the global North. The concept of mobilities of care provides a powerful framework to study the impacts of lockdown policy but would benefit from further theoretical development. In this paper we use a mixed-methods approach to study the impact of lockdown measures in a group of 40 low-income women living in peri-urban areas of Itagüí, a municipality in the south of the Medellín metropolitan area, Colombia. Based on existing feminist literature, we make three main contributions to the conceptualisation of mobilities of care beyond drawing attention to immobilities of care. First, we argue that by focusing on trip motivations rather than purpose, the concept of mobilities of care goes beyond a taxonomical change of trip categories. Second, we propose a focus that extends beyond immediate family members and includes care activities focused on the local community. Finally, we suggest that mobilities of care could benefit if activities of self-care are included.
Im/Mobilities of Care During the Covid-19 Lockdown in Itagui, Colombia (preprint)