Women’s Emotional Labor and Sacrifice in Romantic Relationships: Mankeeping
Women’s Emotional Labor and Sacrifice in Romantic Relationships: Mankeeping

Summary/Abstract: This study aims to introduce the concept of “mankeeping” into the Turkish academic literature by examining the caregiving behaviors of female partners toward their male partners in romantic relationships within the context of the concepts of self-sacrifice and emotional labor. The concept of mankeeping considered an extension of the “kinkeeping” theory of maintaining family relationships, is structured by discussing its fundamental differences from the relevant theory. In this context, the concept is defined through three core components: providing emotional support, facilitating the receipt of support, and the emotional and temporal burdens associated with these processes. The findings indicate that women’s caregiving behaviors toward their male partners in romantic relationships emerge as a means of addressing their partners’ unmet needs. However, it is evident that the forms of caregiving women provide to their male partners, as well as the effects of these behaviors on both the relationship itself and the female partners, have not yet been sufficiently clarified. Therefore, there is a need for research examining the ways in which women compensate for deficiencies in men’s social networks. Additionally, it is important to substantiate the effects of women’s caregiving behaviors toward male partners on the quality of the romantic relationship with concrete data. Previous studies shed light on the possibility that these processes may be associated with psychological distress in female partners. The effects of the burden of caregiving on women have not yet been sufficiently researched. It is believed that studies in this area will offer significant contributions to mental health professionals in terms of strengthening men’s social networks, supporting the wellbeing of female partners, and enhancing couple functionality in romantic relationships.

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