Riding the Waves of Adjustment to Work and Life in Another Country: How and Why Self-expatriates (Re)construct their Social Identities

Abstract

This article examines how self-expatriates (SEs) negotiate tensions between multiple social identities and how this affects their long-term social and professional adjustment to work and life in another country. We use identity work theory to broaden social identity theory (SIT) and offer a deeper understanding of the roles played by social communities in the lived experiences of SEs. Longitudinal qualitative data were collected through 60 in-depth semi-structured interviews with 18 participants. The thematic analysis of the data reveals how SEs balance their allegiance to their expatriate community and host-country nationals (HCNs) as they (re)construct their identities to fulfil their work and lifestyle goals. By highlighting how group membership is not fixed but negotiated and reframed, we contribute to the sociological literature on expatriation by identifying four waves to the identity and adjustment process experienced by SEs.