Abstract
Synopsis The article argues for the usefulness of the capability approach in understanding agency in situations of social change. It develops the notion of agency as a continuum of capabilities. Agency defined in this way comprises of various stages of resistance, action, reception and adaptation and involves different capabilities intrinsic to individual well-being, including mobility. Agency as a continuum of capabilities accounts for the element of chance inherent in situations where habits and routines cannot guide action in meaningful ways. It also grasps the new forms of action needed in situations of social change better than definitions of agency that emphasise deliberation and reflexivity. The article illustrates this re-conceptualisation of agency through a close-reading and follow-up of the lives of three Ukrainian women who recall post-Soviet ‘transition’, migration to Italy and their trajectories into, and out of, domestic work.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
