Arlie Hochschild: The Pioneering Sociologist | Golden Age

Arlie Russell Hochschild is a renowned American sociologist known for her groundbreaking work on the sociology of emotions, gender, and work. Born on May 15, 1940, Hochschild has spent her career exploring the intricate relationships between emotions, social structures, and cultural norms. Her seminal book, 'The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling' (1983), introduced the concept of 'emotional labor,' which refers to the process of managing one's emotions to meet the demands of a job. Hochschild's work has been widely influential, with applications in fields such as psychology, anthropology, and feminist theory. Her more recent work, including 'Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right' (2016), has focused on the emotional underpinnings of political polarization in the United States. With a career spanning over five decades, Hochschild has received numerous awards for her contributions to sociology, including the Jessie Bernard Award and the Ulysses Grant Distinguished Scholar Award.