40455 - Sociology of Emotions Chair’s Hour: The Revolutionary Necessity of Joy

Description

In times of upheaval, positive and community-building emotions like hope, solidarity, and compassion are crucial for sustaining resilience and collective action. They foster social cohesion, motivate engagement, and help prevent burnout by providing emotional sustenance during prolonged struggles. However, their role is both an empirical and ideological question. While these emotions can strengthen movements, an overemphasis on them risks obscuring systemic injustices or fostering complacency. Disruptive emotions like anger and discomfort are equally vital for challenging oppressive structures and driving transformative change, but they may also contribute to burnout.

Studying this dynamic presents challenges, such as measuring the long-term impact of emotions and accounting for cultural and contextual differences. Yet, understanding how emotions shape collective struggles is timely and essential, as global crises demand both resilience and critical action. This discussion highlights the need to navigate the tension between sustaining hope, addressing burnout, and confronting injustice, offering insights into how communities can sustain the "good fight" during turbulent times.

Sub Unit

• Section on Sociology of Emotions / Sociology of Emotions Chair’s Hour

Presider

• Sarah K. Harkness, University of Iowa

Panelists

• stef m. shuster, Michigan State University

• James M Jasper, CUNY-Graduate Center

• Rebecca J. Erickson, University of Akron

Session Organizer

• Sarah K. Harkness, University of Iowa