Core Concepts
Emotional labor is essential yet often overlooked, disproportionately affecting women and perpetuating inequality in society.
Abstract
Emotional labor, defined as prioritizing others' emotions over one's own, plays a crucial role in various settings. Initially coined for service industry workers, it now encompasses all emotional work at home and in communities. Despite its importance, emotional labor is frequently offloaded onto women and undervalued, contributing to gender disparities. Feminist economists use time-use surveys to highlight the unequal distribution of leisure time between men and women. Women are more likely to engage in tasks involving emotional labor, such as planning household activities and managing mental work. The author emphasizes that emotional labor is not solely a gendered issue but also reflects broader societal inequalities related to race and power dynamics. Men's struggles within the patriarchal system do not negate their benefit from women's emotional labor, which remains largely invisible and undervalued. The devaluation of emotional labor contributes to men's disconnection from their emotions and potentially impacts their well-being.
Stats
In 2018, men averaged 49 minutes more leisure time per day than women did.
Women constitute 78% of workers in the health care and social assistance industries.
Women make up 95% of workers in child daycare services.
Domestic workers are predominantly women (90%).
Women are the majority workforce in the restaurant and bar industries.
Quotes
"Being good at a form of work doesn’t make it not work." - Rose Hackman
"A society that values love and connection thrives; one that shames men for needing help is deeply in crisis." - Rose Hackman