Between Factory and Theater: The Tensioned Subjectivity of Contemporary Waitstaff
Abstract
This article analyzes the subjectivities of waitstaff in the Spanish hospitality industry, examining the tension between two conceptions of the workplace: the bar as a factory and the bar as a theatre. Using a qualitative methodology based on interviews and content analysis, it explores how productive and emotional demands shape workers’ experiences. Drawing on fieldwork conducted between 2020 and 2022, the study also highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified these tensions, revealing the implications of emotional labor and current management practices. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of service sector labor subjectivities, offering theoretical tools and strategies to balance these demands and improve working conditions.
Format
Crossmark
License
In order to support the global exchange of knowledge, the journal Cuadernos de Relaciones Laborales is allowing unrestricted access to its content as from its publication in this electronic edition, and as such it is an open-access journal. The originals published in this journal are the property of the Complutense University of Madrid and any reproduction thereof in full or in part must cite the source. All content is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 use and distribution licence (CC BY 4.0). This circumstance must be expressly stated in these terms where necessary. You can view the summary and the complete legal text of the licence.
