During class on October 16, after Chris B. recapped the previous class, Gwen presented on Sara Ahmed’s “Happy Objects” and “Feminist Killjoys.” At the end of her presentation, the discussion started by responding to her first question: how should we understand happiness labor?
In responding to this question, Ela suggested that we look at the different spheres in which emotion work operates. Ela used the example of Hochschild’s book, The Managed Heart in which there is the private emotion work of the bride as well as the public emotion work of the flight attendant. Thus, it may be valuable to look at happiness labor in different spheres. Dr. Whitney affirmed that it would be beneficial to think about what distinction’s Ahmed is making.
At this point Sara asked if the main problem, for Ahmed, is that the societally dominant form of happiness …show more content…
To illustrate this point, we discussed Lorde’s writings about having cancer. In these writings, she reflects on what it is to be seen as a source of unhappiness. While she is grieving the destruction to her body, she is not to upset the other patients in the waiting room. Lorde is to produce her own happiness not focus on injustice. However, one should question the value one places on happiness at the cost of other values like environmental injustices that cause cancer.
Ahmed’s point that happiness is not equal to the good is also shown in the happiness narrative of Sophy. Sophy is to be happy by making her parents happy. And what would make her parents happy is for her to marry a good man. Then, it would be Sophy’s duty to make that man happy. In Ahmed’s account, if Sophy is indeed happy, there is still a problem because there is a structural injustice. Sophy is inheriting a subject position that is already unjust. There is an asymmetry in who is responsible for other people’s happiness. The husband and parents are not responsible for Sophy’s
In responding to this question, Ela suggested that we look at the different spheres in which emotion work operates. Ela used the example of Hochschild’s book, The Managed Heart in which there is the private emotion work of the bride as well as the public emotion work of the flight attendant. Thus, it may be valuable to look at happiness labor in different spheres. Dr. Whitney affirmed that it would be beneficial to think about what distinction’s Ahmed is making.
At this point Sara asked if the main problem, for Ahmed, is that the societally dominant form of happiness …show more content…
To illustrate this point, we discussed Lorde’s writings about having cancer. In these writings, she reflects on what it is to be seen as a source of unhappiness. While she is grieving the destruction to her body, she is not to upset the other patients in the waiting room. Lorde is to produce her own happiness not focus on injustice. However, one should question the value one places on happiness at the cost of other values like environmental injustices that cause cancer.
Ahmed’s point that happiness is not equal to the good is also shown in the happiness narrative of Sophy. Sophy is to be happy by making her parents happy. And what would make her parents happy is for her to marry a good man. Then, it would be Sophy’s duty to make that man happy. In Ahmed’s account, if Sophy is indeed happy, there is still a problem because there is a structural injustice. Sophy is inheriting a subject position that is already unjust. There is an asymmetry in who is responsible for other people’s happiness. The husband and parents are not responsible for Sophy’s