Simultaneity Identity models for st the 21 Century EVANGELINA HOLVINO, Ed.D. © 2010 CHAOS MANAGEMENT, LTD.
What’s In A Place? Complicating Identity I am from Puerto Rico No.
I’m also from Vermont
Why not Puerto Rican?
In the mainland/ USA citizen
Lived there For the past 27 years
Not from New York
Complicated political relation
Really! But…
where are you from?
(But, a P.R. in Vermont?)
My accent you mean?
Not poor Not uneducated
“Between” Latin America & U.S.A.
Not the stereotype 2
Popular Models of Identity TREAT DIFFERENCES AS
• • • •
Essential
Innate Fixed Independent and additive variables
Reified and universal 3
Example SOCIAL IDENTITY GROUPS Religion
Ethnicity
Physical Ability
Race
Gender
Sexual Orientation
Age
Class
1992: Bailey Jackson, Ed.D.; New Perspectives, Inc.; Amherst, MA.
Mental Ability 4
Example IDENTITY WHEEL
Heritage Firm
Regional Location Language/ Accent
Work Style
Age
Social Class
Gender
Race
Ethnic Heritage
Economic Status
Learning Style
Education Mental/Physical Abilities & Leadership Characteristics Style Family Status
Religion Sexual Orientation
Work Experience
Communication Style Organizational Role and Level
1996. Marilyn Loden , Implementing Diversity. Irwin Professional Publishing.
5
An Alternative: Postcolonial Feminist Models TREAT DIFFERENCES AS
• • • • •
Relational Socially constructed Subjective identities and social processes
Power relations Interdependent & interacting
Historically specific and changing 6
Example INTERSECTIONALITY
G
R
E
C
1992: Bell & Nkomo.
7
Simultaneity Nationality Sexuality Class Gender Ethnicity Race
8
Simultaneity… • Identity(ies) is/are multiple, contradictory, situational
• Race, ethnicity, gender, class, nationality, sexuality … … are simultaneous processes of identity, institutional, and social practice 9
Simultaneity in action
10
Simultaneity in action
11
Some Practical Skills • • •
Flexibility, e.g., speaking in 2+voices Owning complexity & multiplicity Managing expectations & pressure for singularity
•
Thinking “location” in time and space, e.g., history and context
•
Effort, i.e. to hold on to the “selves” 12
Q&A •What would it mean for you to embrace simultaneity?
13
Recommended reading: • • •
• •
Bell & Nkomo. Our Separate Ways. 2001 Dhingra, P. Managing Multicultural Lives: Asian American Professionals… 2007 Holvino, E. Intersections: The simultaneity …Gender, Work and Organization, 5/2010 and Theories of differences: Changing Paradigms…In D. Plummer , Handbook of Diversity Management. 2003. Smith, Z. Speaking in Tongues. In Changing my mind. 2009.
Weber, L. Understanding race, class, gender and sexuality…2010.
14
Thank you EVANGELINA HOLVINO, Ed.D. CHAOS MANAGEMENT, LTD. 178 Meetinghouse Lane BRATTLEBORO, VT 05301 802.257.5218
[email protected]
www.chaosmanagement.com Dr. Holvino is also Affiliate Faculty Center for Gender in Organizations, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts
www.simmons.edu/som/cgo 15