Emotional Labor and the Helper Identity: Student Affairs Mothers With Children With Disabilities

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Abstract

This general qualitative study examines how women who work in student affairs and have at least one child with at least one disability, describe emotional work within their family and work domains and the role that emotional labor plays in work/family balance for these women. The findings of this study suggest that they assume a “helper identity”. This identity requires them to frequently use emotional labor in both their personal and professional lives. For many women, organizational culture impacts their need to mask which ultimately influences work/family balance. In this paper I discuss how Clark’s (2000) Work/Family Border Theory could be expanded to include emotional labor.

Author

• Kellie M. McKinney, Rider University