Working with ‘identity’ : an overview of a diverse field

Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in ‘identity’ that springs from its ability to leverage conceptual insight into the intra- and inter- personal dynamics of social settings. Such popularity creates its own problems for those looking to ‘take an identity perspective’ on their research as what might appear a unified field is in actuality a diverse array of semi-distinct theoretical stances. Each has its own distinct voice and an often opaque set of linguistic norms and conventions that suggest different interpretations of where identity ‘is’ and the process, by which it is formed and shaped, regulate what can and cannot be said. The purpose of this workshop is to provide an informed introduction to four social constructionist fields of identity research, namely; social identity theory, discourse, identity work, and sensemaking perspectives. We will examine the ways in which identity is conceptualised in each of these fields and the key terms associated with each. By exploring where work gets published and the conferences where each field is discussed, the session will identify the current debates within them. This will, in turn, allow us to explore the possibilities and impossibilities for dialogue between the different fields, questioning the need for, while celebrating the utility of, identity research’s many faces.