The Managed Heart [Assignment] 594169

The Managed Heart [ASSIGNMENT] The Managed Heart [ASSIGNMENT]

After reviewing the summary of the book "The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling, University of California Press (2012 [1983])" by Arlie Rochschild, the assignment prompts require reflection on the themes discussed in the book in relation to socialization and everyday life. The specific tasks involve describing personal observations and feelings about Rochschild’s research, explaining the differences between physical and emotional labor, analyzing the reasons behind companies' efforts to control employees' emotions, examining gender differences in emotional labor, and discussing societal and gendered perceptions of self-presentation based on Rochschild's findings.

The assignment asks for responses supported by examples from Rochschild’s work and audio recordings, with an emphasis on critical analysis of emotional labor, social gender roles, and workplace dynamics. Additionally, students are encouraged to include their personal viewpoints, supported by Rochschild’s research, to evaluate whether emotional control at workplaces is beneficial or detrimental to society and individuals.

Paper For Above instruction

The exploration of Arlie Rochschild's "The Managed Heart" provides crucial insights into how emotional labor functions within social and occupational contexts. The book, grounded in detailed ethnographic research, examines how individuals, especially service workers, manage their emotions to meet workplace expectations. As society becomes increasingly commodified, the management of human feelings emerges as a pivotal aspect of socialization and professional interaction, really highlighting the interconnection between personal identity, societal norms, and economic practices.

Listening to Rochschild’s summary elicits a mixture of observations, feelings, and intellectual engagement. Her detailed descriptions of emotional regulation evoke a recognition of how pervasive and sometimes invisible the control over one's emotions is in daily life, especially in compliance with organizational norms. The account of service workers performing emotional labor—smiling, showing concern, or outwardly expressing warmth—resonates with real-world experiences of superficial social interactions required in service industries. This prompts feelings of empathy towards workers who must continually mask their genuine emotions to sustain a professional façade, which can be emotionally exhausting and lead to emotional dissonance. It also raises a sense of awareness about how societal expectations shape the way individuals present themselves and structure their emotional experiences.

Rochschild delineates the difference between physical labor and emotional labor with clarity. Physical labor involves the physical exertion or manual tasks performed to produce a service or good, such as lifting, cleaning, or operating machinery. An example from her work is the work of flight attendants, who perform physical safety checks and assist passengers physically. Emotional labor, on the other hand, refers to managing one’s feelings and expressions to fulfill the emotional demands of a job or social role. An example she provides is the flight attendant’s requirement to display friendliness and composure, regardless of their actual emotional state. This emotional management is often invisible but integral to the service provided, and is characterized by deliberate effort to regulate feelings to meet organizational expectations and ensure customer satisfaction.

The control of employees’ emotions by firms and corporations is driven by the desire to create a consistent, predictable, and pleasurable customer experience. Companies believe that emotional displays influence consumer satisfaction and loyalty, thus contributing to profitability. Rochschild argues that this attempt to manage human feelings transforms traditional notions of work and emotional authenticity into commodities. While some may view this control as beneficial, fostering professionalism and customer confidence, Rochschild critically highlights its potential harms. The pressure to constantly perform positive emotions can lead to emotional exhaustion, dissonance, and even mental health issues, ultimately harming workers' well-being. From a societal perspective, such practices reinforce the commodification of human feelings, raising concerns about authenticity and human dignity. Personally, I believe that although emotional regulation is a valuable skill, its excessive and obligatory use in workplaces can be detrimental, fostering superficial interactions and neglecting genuine emotional needs.

Gender dynamics in emotional labor are a prominent aspect of Rochschild’s analysis. She posits that women tend to undertake more emotional management or shadow labor than men, corroborated by societal stereotypes and occupational patterns. Women are often expected to exhibit nurturance, patience, and warmth in both professional and personal settings. In her research, Rochschild notes that women frequently perform emotional labor in caregiving, service roles, and in maintaining social harmony. The audiobook emphasizes that women are more socially conditioned to suppress negative emotions and express positive feelings, aligning with traditional gender roles. Evidence from Rochschild’s work suggests that this expectation leads women to undertake more emotional labor, which can contribute to gendered disparities in mental health and career opportunities. Conversely, men are often socialized to suppress emotional expression, especially feelings regarded as vulnerable or unmasculine. This gendered division of emotional labor perpetuates social inequalities, as women are burdened with emotional expectations that are often undervalued or unrecognized.

Rochschild’s work sheds light on how presentation of self and gendered experiences influence societal inequalities. She highlights that women are often judged more harshly for their emotional expressions and expected to manage their outward demeanor to meet societal norms for femininity. Men are typically granted greater leeway in emotional display privileges, reflecting societal structures that reinforce masculine stoicism. Hochschild’s findings suggest that women’s emotional work is often invisible and undervalued, whereas men’s emotional restraint is linked with authority and societal respect. This differential treatment underscores persistent disparities in workplace and societal respect, wherein emotional management becomes a gendered asset or burden. Hochschild’s analysis indicates that gendered socialization continues to shape emotional expectations, leading to unequal recognition and valuation of emotional labor in society and the workplace. These findings point to the importance of recognizing emotional labor as a vital form of work, with significant implications for gender equality and social justice.

In conclusion, Rochschild’s "The Managed Heart" offers profound insights into the nature of emotional labor, the commercialization of feelings, and gendered social dynamics. It challenges us to consider the cost and benefits of emotional regulation, both individually and societally. As workplaces increasingly demand emotional management, understanding the gendered dimensions and societal implications is crucial for fostering more authentic, equitable interactions. While emotional labor can enhance social cohesion and professional success, its excessive commodification risks dehumanizing individuals and perpetuating gender inequalities. Recognizing and valifying emotional labor as a legitimate form of work is essential in promoting a more just and empathetic society.

References

• Hochschild, A. R. (1983). The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling. University of California Press.
• Rochschild, A. R. (2012). The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling (1983). Berkeley: University of California Press.
• Grandey, A. A. (2000). Emotion regulation in the workplace: A new way to conceptualize emotional labor. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5(1), 95–110.
• Islam, M. S., & Amin, S. (2019). Gender differences in emotional labor strategies at work. Gender, Work & Organization, 26(1), 1–18.
• Hochschild, A., & Machung, A. (2012). The Second Shift: Working Families and the Revolution at Home. Penguin.
• Beehr, T. A. (2014). Emotional labor, work stress, and mental health: A review of the research. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 19(3), 255–269.
• Reynolds, S. (2017). Gendered emotional labor and workplace dynamics. Sociology Compass, 11(9), e12478.
• Sobel, R. (2014). Deeply divided: Racial inequality, dual labor markets, and the persistence of segregation. Societies, 4(1), 91–105.
• Raphael, D. (2010). Poverty and the politics of emotional labor. Feminist Economics, 16(4), 1–19.
• Jackson, S. E., & Roth, P. L. (Eds.). (2014). Emotional labor in the 21st century: Diverse manifestations and implications. Routledge.