Money Never Loves you Back: Subjective Perspectives on Meaning of Life, Work, and Life-Courses under Neoliberal Conditions of Everyday Life

This research originates from observations in the therapeutic practice of everyday challenges from subjects on career tracks and their suffering from the consequences when work and private life are put against each other under neoliberal conditions of life. 15 narrative stories are analyzed using hermeneutics to reconstruct subjective reasoning and meaning-making behind seemingly absurd actions, like purposefully missing the birth of the own children in favor of everyday work incidents. The findings reveal striking interrelations of the subjects' meaning of and relationship with work, including significant effects on relationship formations in friendship, romance, family, and marriage on two levels; Firstly, pragmatically, where work becomes the technical core of life through focus, time, dedication, and overall personal investment. Second, through an emphasis on an emotional and affective level, where loyalty, identification, and (romantic) love are projected into the relationship with work and the workplace.