Conversations with Arlie Hochschild

This article presents insights gained from conversations with Arlie Hochschild, which challenged my initial assumptions and encouraged a nuanced integration of sociological and psychological perspectives in exploring children’s wellbeing through their experiences and management of emotional demands within institutional settings. Drawing on parallels between adults who are adept at managing emotions in societal contexts, such as flight attendants, and the challenges faced by children, Hochschild illuminated the distinctive nature of children’s emotional experiences. These insights enriched the theoretical foundation of my research, offering new perspectives on children’s emotion work within institutional settings. By investigating the emotional demands children face during their transition from kindergarten to school and after-school care, the article sheds light on the influence of schools’ approaches to children’s wellbeing and emotional experiences. The findings underscore the importance of considering children’s genuine emotional experiences in wellbeing initiatives, particularly in navigating expectations to be happy.