You're Wrong About Emotional Labor with Rachel Monroe and Ash Compton of Bad Therapist
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Feb 12, 2025 
Rachel Monroe, a keen journalist and co-host of Bad Therapist, teams up with psychotherapist Ash Compton to dive into the complexities of emotional labor. They explore how the term, coined by sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild, has evolved and often misapplied in relationships. The duo critiques societal expectations surrounding emotional management, discusses 'weaponized incompetence,' and highlights the impact of gender dynamics in both personal and professional realms. Their candid insights offer a blend of humor and depth for better understanding emotional exchanges.
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Emotional Labor Definition
- Arlie Hochschild's term "emotional labor" describes managing feelings for a job's public display.
- It includes evoking and suppressing emotions, seen in roles from flight attendants to bill collectors.
Spirit Airlines Example
- Rachel Monroe recounts a friend's emotionally taxing job explaining Spirit Airlines' strict baggage rules to frustrated passengers.
- This highlights dissonance between felt and displayed emotions as jobs demand more performative care.
Twin Peaks Example
- Socially acceptable emotional displays vary by profession, as seen with the character Andy in Twin Peaks.
- His crying, appropriate for grief, is unsuitable for a police officer, highlighting how roles shape emotional expression.
