The Full Participation of Women in the Public Sector Workplace: Women’s Emotions and (In)Authentic Expression

In the push for ever-improved organizational performance, scholarship and practice may neglect the human elements that contribute to such performance. Emotional labor research focuses on the outward-facing aspects of public service, but inward emotional experiences are not commonly studied, despite their professional and personal impact. This study surveys women public servants about the emotions they experience at work and how they manage them. Respondents report a range of positive and negative emotions at work, and they manage them in professionally acceptable ways. Specifically, they suppress negative emotions more than positive ones. Results suggest that connections among emotions, emotion management, organizational support, and career success are nuanced: women report intangible rewards but are less satisfied with tangible ones. If women trade emotional authenticity for career success, this research suggests those efforts are only partially successful. This raises questions about women’s ability to participate authentically and perform fully in public service organizations.