Social and Organizational Identities

Abstract

Identity refers to a sense of self. It is a complex notion that influences an individual's values, attitudes, and behaviors and can change over an individual's life span. In organizational settings, identity is a powerful force driving employees' motivations, decisions, and actions. Organizations recognize that employees have identities arising from personal and private parts of their lives. At the same time, organizations encourage their employees to develop a (strong) sense of identity as organizational members. Workplaces are thus intriguing environments in which individuals are required to manage and negotiate various identities, both social (personal) and organizational. In this chapter, the authors discuss theories that explain how individuals develop a sense of identity. They then discuss identities that are relevant to Asian American women in work environments. The social identities pertinent in this context include ethnic and racial identities and the model minority stereotype. Work identities, in contrast, include professional and organizational identities.