If a woman is constantly expected to smile and give emotional support to everyone at work, what invisible burden does this show?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: Emotional labour
The correct answer is emotional labour. Constantly smiling, managing colleagues’ feelings, and providing emotional support require time and mental energy, yet this work is often not formally recognised. Technical skill refers to the ability to perform a task, whereas the question describes invisible emotional effort. Exam tip: clues such as “invisible” and “managing emotions” usually indicate emotional labour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
Emotional labour
Why is this the correct answer?
The correct answer is emotional labour. Constantly smiling, managing colleagues’ feelings, and providing emotional support require time and mental energy, yet this work is often not formally recognised. Technical skill refers to the ability to perform a task, whereas the question describes invisible emotional effort. Exam tip: clues such as “invisible” and “managing emotions” usually indicate emotional labour.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 11 Home Science question. Chapter: Work, Livelihood and Career. Topic: Women and work: issues and concerns.