discussion 5

Based on the reading, it is evident that Hochschild's work is related to multiple theoretical perspectives. However, I find her work particularly related to the microinteractionist tradition, specifically the work of Erving Goffman. Goffman's theory of dramaturgy suggests that social interactions are akin to performances, where individuals present themselves in particular ways to different audiences. Hochschild's work on emotion management builds on this idea, suggesting that emotions are also part of this performance. Individuals must actively create and manage their emotions in order to present themselves in a particular way to others, both in their personal and professional lives.

Furthermore, Hochschild's work also relates to the Durkheimian tradition of microsociology, specifically interaction rituals. According to Collins, interaction rituals are a "critical feature of social life" and involve individuals "sharing attention and emotions to achieve shared understandings and to generate a sense of solidarity and belonging." Hochschild's research on emotion management and labor suggests that these interaction rituals play a significant role in shaping our emotions and how we perform them.

Hochschild's concept of emotion management and emotion labor, where an individual's emotions are performed as part of a job or work role, can be related to Goffman's concept of impression management. Impression management refers to the efforts individuals make to control the impression that others form of them. Both Hochschild and Goffman highlight the importance of managing one's emotions and behavior to create a particular image of oneself in social interactions. Moreover, Hochschild's concept of emotion management can also be related to Goffman's notion of face-saving. Face-saving refers to the efforts individuals make to preserve their self-image or "face" in social interactions. In the same way, Hochschild argues that emotion management is essential for individuals to maintain their dignity and self-respect.

Overall, I find it fascinating how Hochschild's work draws on the microinteractionist tradition and complements Goffman's work on impression management and face-saving. By studying the ways individuals manage their emotions in social interactions, Hochschild's work contributes to our understanding of how individuals construct and maintain social reality.

Reading Hochschild's paper made me aware of how many of these situations I had experienced but not understood on this hierarchical level. I found it impressive that she was able to explain all these concepts and experiences so well. I found a lot of her writings similar to Durkheimian interaction ritual theory. Hochschild describes the position of women in the workplace and how they are attuned to different things or within certain social groups just based on their gender. The fact that women manage emotions differently means that they are will be 'invited' to different levels of social interaction. This means that they will be part of different experiences and rituals. Their alienation from certain things means that they will always stay a little bit apart from a social belonging with males in a workplace environment. The description of interaction ritual also describes the social hierarchy that determines who gives orders, who the middle link is, and who only takes orders. A lot of this is also prevalent in Hochschild article as she describes who men are willing to take orders from and how women often are not listened to from a position of authority and power and might instead resort to their 'feminine wiles.' 

My mother was very good at teaching us to regulate and understand our emotions when my siblings and I were children and was always willing to find ways to prioritize our emotional wellbeing. This was true for my sisters and brothers. This makes me think that a large part of the findings in this article are cultural because boys are taught to act a certain way and girls are taught how not to act. I think the first step in improving a system such as this, which creates disadvantages for people in all levels of hierarchy, is to education children more equally and not give them different pressures to fulfill as they get older. As Collins describes on page 144, if the system and what it needs changes, so will the culture. 

In Arlie Hochschild's "The Managed Heart", she speaks about the comparison of men and women in their ability to control their emotions in different environments, but she mostly speaks about in the work place. Hochschild's work had a relation to multiple theoretical perspectives. She did an excelent job in explaing and drawing from the different theoretical traditions while still maintaining her focus on emotional management. Her work was similar to Durkheimian tradition of microsociology, in terms of interaction rituals.

Accordning to Collins, interaction rituals is the approach that questions the understanding of other people. If an understanding of others can occur, it can initiate a sense of belonging and solidarity. Hochschild proposes that these ritual interactions can really help in shaping our emotions and how we show them outloud. Another idea of the inyeraction ritual also explains the tiers of control in society. It describes who gives orders, those who are in between and ones who only take orders from these higher tiered people. Hochschild explains how women use different feminine approaches such as being "motherly" or "sexy" in order to be recieved respectfully and with power and athority, whilist men are more respected in that aspect just by being a male.  

In her research, Hochschild explained how emotions started to become a job role to flight attendents. It was sometimes hard for them to differenciate their natural emotions to the ones in the job discription. This can relate to Goffman's concept of impression management. Impression management relays to the control of someones emotions based on the picture they would like others to see them in. In a way, they can control the impressions other people have on them. These theorist both emphasise the importance of distributing emotions and behavior in a way that positively effects them in social environments/interactions.

Hochschild did and overall great job in tying in some of the previous social theorist works into her own. It really allowed us to see the perspectives allowing us to think more deeply on the issue at hand. Studying ways that individuals manage their emotions, whether it be at home or at work, helps us understand our society and the interactions that occur.