Stigma, stress and emotional labour: experiences of women with chronic illness at work

Abstract

Women who work after being diagnosed with a chronic illness often find it difficult to fit in with the expectations of workplaces and for this reason often choose not to disclose their illness to their colleagues. The employment experiences of these women reveal that they negotiate the negative attitudes of their workplaces and employ strategies such as enlisting support and evaluating the risks of disclosure. They display a higher than usual amount of emotional labour in order to continue working specifically in relation to their severity or variability of illness, their avoidance of stigma and expected management and peer support. These variables form part of the model of disclosure and will be used to examine the factors which influence the decision to disclose their illness in their place of work.