Title: Zones of emotional labour: an explorative study among Danish public family law caseworkers

Authors: Pernille Solveig Strobaek

Addresses: Faculty of Social Science, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2A, DK-1353 Copenhagen K., Denmark

Abstract: The paper suggests that due to the difficult nature of their work public family law caseworkers are to be included in the definition of emotional labour even though they are omitted by Hochschild. Based upon a review of the structures involved in emotional labour an explorative qualitative study is put forth among 25 Danish public family law caseworkers. The study points to personal, professional, and social zones of emotional labour through which the caseworkers carry out their work. Emotional labour zones mark emotion structures that may be challenging due to complex emotional intersections between zones.

Keywords: emotional intersection; emotional labour zones; public casework; Denmark; family law; emotion structures.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2011.044596

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 2011 Vol.4 No.2, pp.178 - 194

Published online: 31 Dec 2011 *

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