The Labor of Work as Friendship: Relationship Work in Precarious Pink-Collar Service Industries

Abstract

This article draws on ethnographic research in order to analyse the work that beauticians—most of whom are self-employed—undertake in order to establish long-lasting relationships with their clients, which often resemble friendships. I argue that the code “friendship” exceeds the notion commonly discussed as emotional labour organisationally. Drawing on ethnographic data, shortcomings in light of solo-self-employed, precarious, feminized work will be identified within the literature of emotional labour and interactive service work. In an attempt to overcome these shortcomings, I suggest the term “relationship work” in order to adequately research the invisible boundary work behind the actual service work. In so doing, I show how service workers face contradictory challenges in the process of commodifying gendered reproductive work such as beauty work. Furthermore, I discuss how beauticians negotiate and adjust the boundaries between reproductive and productive work that are integral to the capitalist organisation of work.