In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking insights from Arlie Hochschild’s The Managed Heart, a deep dive into the hidden demands of emotional labor. Learn how workers in service-sector roles, from flight attendants to bill collectors, are required to manage their emotions to meet workplace expectations, often at the expense of their well-being.

We examine the gender and power dynamics at play, the societal implications of commodifying feelings, and how emotional labor impacts workers’ authenticity and sense of self. Through interviews, data, and models of emotion, Hochschild paints a vivid picture of the personal toll of performing “emotional work.”

Join us as we uncover the true cost of emotional labor and what it means for modern workers navigating a world where even emotions are up for sale.