Emotions at Work: The Case of Chronic Illnesses in Academia

Given the large number of reported chronic diseases across several segments of the population, the article explores the relationship between having a chronic illness, emotions, and academic work. Based on interviews with university staff, collected in Italy between 2020 and 2023 within a national research project on gender dis/advantage in academia, the essay sheds light on the hidden dimensions of universities as organizational settings in which all members participate in the dual dynamics of “emotion work” and “emotional labor” (Hochschild, 1979 & 1983): two facets of one coin, which flips unequally on multiple grounds, evermore when the social management of health conditions comes into play. Results show that academics with chronic diseases have to face daily challenges in navigating perceived stigma and adhering to over-commitment and expected performance (even more so for non-tenure track positions). However, data also show that informal solidarity and self-resilience thrive among university staff, allowing an expressive space for emotions to promote a more inclusive work ethic in academia.