Methods

Pandemic Context and Social Norms

  • The COVID-19 pandemic engendered an unprecedented period of uncertainty, fundamentally altering the established rules and social norms governing personal conduct and emotional responses in everyday life. This disruption fostered the emergence of innovative practices and strategies that challenged traditional social customs related to work commitments and domestic responsibilities, prompting profound scrutiny and reflection on societal roles and expectations.

Definition of Work in Sociology

  • In the field of sociology, work is defined not merely through the lens of paid employment but encompasses a broader spectrum of activities described as “intentional: it is done in some actual place under definite conditions and with definite resources, and it takes time” (Smith, 2005:154). This expansive definition includes various forms of unpaid labor, such as caregiving for children and elders and household tasks, highlighting the importance of recognizing differing contributions to family and society.

Gender Equality and Unpaid Labor

  • Historically, the integration of women into the labor market has not corresponded with enhanced gender equity in the distribution of family responsibilities (Risman, 2004). Hochschild has aptly termed this phenomenon a ‘stalled revolution,’ positing that women often confront a second shift of unpaid domestic labor alongside their professional roles (Hochschild with Machung, 2003:12). In her seminal work, The Time Bind (1997), Hochschild discusses family-friendly policies aimed at achieving work-life balance but introduces the concept of an emerging ‘third shift’—the emotional labor associated with managing family dynamics and household organization amidst professional obligations.

Telework and Emotional Labor During the Pandemic

  • The abrupt transition to remote work during the pandemic dismantled traditional indicators of work, such as physical presence at the workplace, and necessitated a re-evaluation of contemporary definitions and experiences of work. While telework introduces flexibility to employees, it has also exacerbated existing inequalities related to gender, class, disability, and race (Sullivan and Lewis, 2001; Nevin and Schieman, 2020). Throughout the pandemic, these disparities have persisted, underscored by a widening gender gap in unpaid labor related to housework and childcare, along with significant mental health challenges faced by telecommuting mothers (Lyttleton et al., 2020).

Intersectional Inequalities in Telework

  • The patterns observed in teleworking reveal deep-seated intersectional inequities in access to and participation in remote work opportunities. Pre-existing disparities related to race and ethnicity have profoundly influenced individuals’ health, work performance, and overall household outcomes during the pandemic. Notably, participants in the study, despite their relatively privileged backgrounds, voiced concerns regarding overall well-being and inequality, affirming that privilege does not shield individuals from experiencing the ramifications of systemic inequities.

Feelings and Emotional Experiences in Work and Home

  • The blurring of boundaries between work and home life has led participants to engage in critical reflections on the emotional labor associated with their roles and responsibilities. Building on Hochschild’s concept of ‘feeling rules,’ which delineates the socially scripted norms that dictate appropriate emotions and expressions in specific contexts (Hochschild, 1979, 2003 [1983]), the pandemic catalyzed a disconnection between actual emotions experienced and the prescribed responses. This shift emphasized a significant focus on the evolution of these emotional experiences throughout the crisis, revealing the complexities of navigating dual roles as both employees and caregivers.

Methodology

  • Study Duration: This study was conducted over a period of ten weeks, spanning from May to July 2020, involving participants engaging in remote work while residing in Nova Scotia during the state-of-emergency mandated by the pandemic.

  • Data Collection: Participants contributed journal entries responding to specific prompts concerning their work experiences and daily life in the context of the pandemic. Recruitment efforts were conducted through social media platforms, and an online format was employed for demographic data collection and entry submissions.

  • Ethics: Ethical approval for the study was obtained from [omitted] University, ensuring adherence to research ethics guidelines.

  • Participant Selection: Out of an initial cohort of 53 respondents, 27 participants provided between four and ten journal entries focused on their experiences navigating work, pandemic responses, and family life.

Participant Demographics

  • A total of five participants were meticulously selected based on the richness of their journaling, with a primary focus on home-based work while fulfilling parenting responsibilities:

    • David: A teacher and father who manage complex family dynamics while maintaining his professional duties.

    • Jeanne: A public administrator sharing responsibilities with a self-employed partner and managing childcare.

    • Jessica: A research epidemiologist whose spouse works outside the home, adding to her domestic challenges.

    • Phyllis: An administrator balancing the demands of a career alongside two children.

    • Yanick: A professor whose partner, working from home, has an immune condition, complicating their domestic arrangements.

  • The selected participants ranged in age from 28 to 45 and represented diverse racial backgrounds, with all holding at least university-level degrees, showcasing a range of experiences and perspectives on the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

Findings and Discussions
Changes in Work and Family Life

  • Participants articulated their experiences of navigating altered feelings associated with the interwoven dynamics of work and family life amid the health measures imposed during the pandemic. The intersection of professional responsibilities with parental duties presented new forms of emotional labor, necessitating a redefinition of existing norms regarding everyday activities, such as grocery shopping and home management. Journal entries poignantly revealed significant emotional responses, including “secret feelings”: worries, judgments, sorrows, and unexpressed emotions that surfaced during this tumultuous period.

Shifts in Feeling Rules

  • Reflections shared by participants indicated notable shifts in feeling rules, particularly regarding the emotional expectations intertwined with their domestic and work roles. This stress manifested as a struggle to adapt to newly imposed demands, fostering deeper reflection on entrenched gender roles and the existing disparities in household responsibilities. Jessica’s experiences brought to light the inequities surrounding childcare and household management, illustrating broader societal trends in the division of unpaid labor. Moreover, Yanick’s insights concerning household responsibilities, including the increasing need for practical solutions (e.g., obtaining a dishwasher), underscored the additional pressures arising from new domestic circumstances imposed by pandemic conditions.

Reflections on Work and Home Dynamics

  • Phyllis expressed the tension between strict work-related demands and her family’s needs, contemplating the unrealistic expectations often placed on her time and energy. Jeanne’s narrative highlighted the importance of collaborative parenting, depicting how family responsibilities were strategically organized around work hours to ensure effective childcare and support systems. Collectively, the participants’ experiences resonated with a shared struggle to balance professional aspirations and domestic obligations amid significant global upheaval. The absence of clear delineations between personal and professional responsibilities forced continual adjustments in emotional labor, complicating individuals’ overall well-being and work-life balance.