Week 4 - Blog 1: Ch 7—Emotion Labor

Week 4 - Blog 1: Ch 7—Emotion Labor

I like this concept because it clearly defines the differences between gender in work and life. I believe that emotion labor is, in fact, a strain on any one person after a while, and the stress does seep into one’s life outside of work, affecting him or her in a negative way. Specifically, I find that women are more subjected to emotion labor than that of men. You find it everywhere: in the mall at all the cosmetic counters, restaurants, customer service jobs, and the most fashionably noted of all—the airline stewardess. There are plenty of men who also work this kind of emotion labor, but society has put in place that this is “women's work” whereas men are able to express themselves through “masculine breadwinner” type jobs and, in many cases, not have to hide their true feelings behind a smile.

The “emotional” toll that emotion labor creates is a heavy one. You see it every day when you or someone you know gets off work, they are beat, drained, don’t want to think, just want to flop down and not be bothered. This is not only due to the physically stress, but emotionally it takes the bait. That saying where it’s “10% physical and 90% mental” applies here.