They Call It Love: The Politics of Emotional Life
Politics and government, Customs and cultures, General non-fiction
Synthetic audio, Automated braille
Summary
The work of love is a feminist problem, and it demands feminist solutions Comforting a family member or friend, soothing children, providing company for the elderly, ensuring that people feel well enough to work; this is all essential labour. Without… it, capitalism would cease to function. They Call It Love investigates the work that makes a haven in a heartless world, examining who performs this labor, how it is organised, and how it might change. In this groundbreaking book, Alva Gotby calls this work &“emotional reproduction,&” unveiling its inherently political nature. It not only ensures people&’s well-being but creates sentimental attachments to social hierarchy and the status quo. Drawing on the thought of the feminist movement Wages for Housework, Gotby demonstrates that emotion is a key element of capitalist reproduction. To improve the way we relate to one another will require a radical restructuring of society.