How Do Self-Employed Workers Navigate Illness? A Gender-Based Analysis of Informal Support Systems

New Publication Alert: Gendered Dynamics of Self-Employment and Health SupportsI am pleased to share that our latest co-authored research paper, "How Do Self‑Employed Workers Navigate Illness? A Gender‑Based Analysis of Informal Support Systems," has been officially published in the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation (Springer Nature). Co-authored with Dr. Ellen MacEachen, this qualitative study explores how solo self-employed men and women in Ontario, Canada, navigate informal networks during periods of health-related work disruptions. By employing an interpretive narrative paradigm and an intersectionality framework, our findings reveal distinct gendered patterns in both motivations for self-employment and support-seeking behaviors. The paper highlights critical structural gaps in social security and underscores the pressing need for gender-responsive policy reforms to protect precarious workers. I would like to extend my gratitude to our research participants and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC/CIHR) for funding this study through the Healthy Productive Workforce Partnership Grant.