Hochschild elaborated her theory of emotion management in the 1970s. Assess, based on your own experiences, the extent to which the feeling rules she identified might have changed over the last three decades. Are these rules impacted more by gender than by race or social class? Or, where, and how, do intersecting social locations coalesce to make emotion management even more self-alienating for some women rather than for others? [e.g., low wage service work of immigrant women] Use illustrative examples to support your arguments.

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The Answer is Hochschild's theory of emotion management, as outlined in her 1970s work, focused on the societal expectations and feeling rules that dictate how individuals should express and manage their emotions in various social settings. Assessing the extent to which these feeling rules have changed over the last three decades requires a consideration of the evolving social and cultural landscape.

In my own experiences, I have observed a shift in the feeling rules surrounding emotional expression. There seems to be a greater acceptance of diverse emotional displays and a recognition of the importance of authentic emotional expression. This shift can be attributed to various factors, including the influence of social movements advocating for emotional authenticity, the impact of globalization and exposure to diverse cultural norms, and the increasing awareness of mental health and well-being.

However, it is important to acknowledge that the changes in feeling rules are not uniform across different social groups. Gender, race, and social class continue to intersect and shape the ways in which individuals are expected to manage their emotions. For example, women are often still expected to display nurturing and empathetic emotions, while men are expected to suppress vulnerability and display stoicism. These gendered feeling rules can be particularly restrictive for individuals who do not conform to traditional gender norms, leading to self-alienation and emotional suppression.

Additionally, the impact of race and social class on feeling rules cannot be overlooked. For example, immigrant women working in low-wage service jobs may face unique challenges in managing their emotions. They may be expected to display subservient and accommodating emotions in their interactions with customers and employers, further exacerbating their feelings of self-alienation.

In conclusion, while there have been some changes in feeling rules over the last three decades, the impact of intersecting social locations, such as gender, race, and social class, continues to shape the ways in which individuals are expected to manage their emotions. These intersecting social locations can contribute to heightened self-alienation and emotional suppression for some women, particularly those in marginalized and low-wage positions. It is crucial to continue examining and challenging these feeling rules to create more inclusive and authentic emotional expressions in society.

Hochschild Elaborated Her Theory of Emotion Management in the 1970s