The Emotional Labour of Musical Motherhood

I investigate the emotional labour of musical motherhood. Drawing on Hochschild’s research in this area, I look at how mothers mollify the behaviour of themselves and others, again to maintain that persona of middle-class self-control and respectability often through music. The notion of emotional capital is also explored in relation to the investments mothers make in their children, particularly in education and how returns on these investments are classed. I also demonstrate how mothers utilise music as a resource for themselves to do their emotional work. The case study of Jessica highlights the exhausting emotional labour of being a mother, teacher, partner and professional musician and how she navigates her multiple roles.