Relational Work and Racialized Recognition: Emotional Labor Among Men of Color Practitioners at Hispanic Serving Institutions

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Abstract

In previous years, growing attention has been paid to the unrecognized and emotionally taxing labor of faculty and staff who support student success, particularly in contexts where practitioner wellness is key to long-term sustainability. This study centers the narratives of men of color (MoC) practitioners affiliated with MoC programs across the greater Los Angeles area. Grounded in Emotional Labor Theory (Hochschild, 1983) and Racialized Organized Theory (Ray, 2019), the products of inductive analysis revealed two central themes: (1) institutional culture and racialized experiences, and (2) emotional labor as relational care and resistance. The findings offer tangible insights for faculty, staff, and administrators seeking to recognize, support, and sustain the labor of practitioners committed to equity and belonging.

Authors

• Adrian H. Huerta, University of Southern California

• Jose Bermejo, University of Southern California

• Nevan Bell, University of California - Santa Barbara