How Social Structures Shape Emotional Resources
Emotions are an essential part of human experience that influence how people interact with each other and their surroundings. These feelings can range from happiness to sadness, fear to excitement, anger to love. People often seek out emotional support from others when they feel these emotions.
This seeking is influenced by various social structures such as gender roles, family dynamics, cultural norms, economic systems, and political institutions.
Gender Roles
Gender roles dictate what emotions men and women should express and receive in different situations. Traditional gender roles expect men to be stoic and unemotional while encouraging women to show more emotion. This means men may not get the care and support they need when they experience negative emotions such as grief, stress, and anxiety because they are expected to 'man up' or suppress them. Women may find it difficult to receive help for their emotional needs if they do not conform to traditional feminine stereotypes of being nurturing, caring, or submissive.
Family Dynamics
Family dynamics also play a significant role in shaping how individuals access emotional resources. In some families, there may be an expectation that children take care of aging parents rather than receiving support themselves. Some families may prioritize one member's needs over another, creating resentment and frustration. Family members may also have conflicting beliefs about how to deal with certain issues like mental health challenges, leading to misunderstandings and conflict.
Cultural Norms
Culture also plays a big part in determining which emotions are acceptable to express publicly and privately. Some cultures may place high value on stoicism, while others may encourage open displays of affection or vulnerability. People from diverse backgrounds may feel alienated if their culture's values clash with those of the dominant group.
Cultural norms may limit the availability of certain resources such as counseling services or therapy.
Economic Systems
Economic systems determine who has access to paid caregivers or medical professionals. Individuals who can afford these services often have better access to emotional support than those who cannot. This means people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may struggle more with emotional regulation due to limited resources.
Political Institutions
Political institutions shape laws regarding the recognition of emotional resources.
Governments may mandate workplace leave for bereavement or parental care but not provide adequate funding for mental healthcare. These policies could lead to unequal access to care and support depending on factors such as employment status, income level, or geographic location.
Social structures significantly impact how individuals get and recognize emotional resources like care and support. It is essential to examine our social context when seeking or offering help to understand the barriers that prevent some people from receiving it and ensure equitable access to all.
How do social structures shape the distribution and recognition of emotional resources like care and support?
The term "emotional resource" refers to the availability of emotional labor that can be distributed within a given society. It is an idea developed by Arlie Russell Hochschild in her book The Second Shift (1989). The concept posits that there are two types of tasks in every household - the primary job and the secondary job. While the former involves paid employment outside the home, the latter consists of unpaid domestic work.