Natalie Adamyk, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Sociology, has published “With precarious jobs, work identities shift—including for contract academics” in The Conversation. Her article examines how women contract faculty members at Canadian universities draw upon their previous work and job experiences in performing emotional labour in their academic roles.
Adamyk’s research, which focuses on emotional and affective labour among temporary precarious workers, particularly contract professors and academics, provides important insights into an understudied group within academia. Her work reveals how these professors derive meaning and confidence from their experiences, highlighting their accomplishments and dedication to their academic work.
The article demonstrates how contract faculty members approach their emotional work, especially teaching, with both dignity and enthusiasm. Through her analysis, Adamyk sheds light on the complex ways these academics navigate their roles within the university system, contributing to our understanding of precarious academic labour and emotional work in higher education.
You can read the full article here.