Between 2016 and 2019, a set of political and social events, in particular the emergence of a civil movement of informal carers, put the topic of informal care on the Portuguese public and political agenda. In this process, which culminated with the creation of the Informal Carer Law, different political actors intervened to advocate support measures for carers in various ways, reflecting different political-ideological perspectives on the role of informal care in society. Employing a discourse framework analysis with a gender perspective, the paper aims to understand the social and political construction of the carer category. A significant aspect of the study is the emphasis on gender inequality in the provision of unpaid care at home. The analysis highlights how gender dimensions are either made visible or obscured by different discourses. The findings reveal that informal care is frequently portrayed as a sustainable solution to the care crisis, emphasizing the social function and moral obligation of family caregiving. This narrative often invisibilizes and perpetuates gender inequality, continuously holding families and informal carers responsible and reinforcing the societal construction of women as the primary caregivers. The paper indicates that the political and public discourse valorizes family caregiving, which contributes to maintaining traditional gender roles and familial responsibility. This approach does not adequately address the underlying gender disparities in caregiving duties. Instead, it reinforces the expectation that families, particularly women, should shoulder the caregiving burden. The research underscores the necessity for a more equitable approach to caregiving that recognizes and addresses gender inequality, advocating for systemic changes that do not merely shift the caregiving responsibilities onto families but also involve broader societal support.