Gemma Hartley wrote an article in Harper's Bazaar in September 2017 called 'Women Aren't Nags - We're Just Fed Up', which instantly went viral. The piece, and this book, are about 'emotional labour', i.e. the unpaid, often unnoticed effort and work that goes into keeping everyone around you comfortable and happy.

The Problem That Had No Name tackles the big issues surrounding emotional labour: the historical underpinnings and roots in feminism, the benefits and burdens of this kind of effort, and the specific contexts where emotional labour plays a major but undervalued role, including relationships, work, sex, parenting, politics and self-care.