Abstract
Resentment, that is triggered by deprived entitlement, was suggested as particularly salient for energizing action and change in labor relations. However, its relationship with estrangement has not yet been examined as relevant to social change in times of contracting out services. I investigate this question in my research of public procurement as a mode of contract-based service delivery, examining two types of related jobs. The analysis of interviews with 30 employees and 12 administrators, all women, revealed the emergence of managed resentment and the conditions of its coexistence with estrangement. I demonstrate a learning process in which resentment energizes action but encounters lack of recognition. Managed resentment follows but remains protected from estrangement only by positive emotions created in care relations. I discuss possible meanings of these subjective developments for social change in the contexts of women’s encounter with lack of recognition of their skilled or professional contributions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 94-111 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Sociological Perspectives |
| Volume | 63 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Feb 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s) 2019.
Funding
I?m deeply indebted to the three anonymous reviewers assigned by Sociological Perspective for their generous feedback on an earlier draft allowing me to clarify and improve the paper. Additionally, my deep gratitude goes to Prof? Larry Ray whose excellent comments assisted me in developing my argument. I also thank him for inviting me to present the paper at a seminar in Kent university, enabling me to benefit of participants? insights. More gratitude goes to Prof? Arlie Hochschild who kindly commented on an earlier version as well as to my friend Tova Bensky. The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Keywords
- class
- emotions
- entitlement
- estrangement
- gender
- occupations
- organizations
- public procurement
- resentment
- social change