Exploring entrepreneurial roles and identity in the United Kingdom and China

Abstract

<jats:p> This article examines entrepreneurial identity in both the United Kingdom and China through the lenses of identity theory and social identity theory to develop a deeper and more holistic understanding of the concept of entrepreneurial identity. By examining the entrepreneur as both a role and an identity, this article explores how an entrepreneur views the role of the entrepreneur, the counter-roles to the entrepreneur, and the “self-as-entrepreneur” and seeks to understand how entrepreneurs construct their identity as an entrepreneur. By looking at the role identity in different social constructs, a more nuanced view of entrepreneurial identity can be uncovered for entrepreneurs in both the United Kingdom and China. The study argues that entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom use counter-roles to bridge the disconnect between their understanding of the entrepreneur-as-role and the self-as-entrepreneur, whereas entrepreneurs in China have less conflict reconciling the two and use the counter-role as a way to paint entrepreneurship as a “calling,” justifying their abandonment of other identities. </jats:p>

Navigating belonging as a Muslim Moroccan female entrepreneur

“…There are various patterns in the intricate ways in which these women seek acceptance with their stakeholders, and how this is played out in their everyday lives. Whereas other contributions merely touch on belonging in a general sense (for example, Bell et al, 2018;May, 2011;Radu-Lefebvre et al, 2019), among migrants (Ryan, 2018) or belonging within organizations (Hytti et al, 2017;Schnell et al, 2019), this study offers the required detailed knowledge and adds nuanced insights in the processes of entrepreneurial belonging. This is a novel development.…”

“…Aspects of identity and belonging are an important part of this process, which can be dynamic and prone to change. Bell et al (2018) discuss entrepreneurial identity as dynamic, based on social interactions and contextual influences and how individuals reflect on their identities and sense of self. While they touch on belonging, this explanation requires more detail.…”

“…However, limited research has been conducted on how female migrant entrepreneurs are influenced, positively or negatively, by their family and ethnic community while setting up and sustaining their business, and how gender plays a role in navigating belonging. Indeed, while research exists on legitimacy (Ashforth, 2019;Radu-Lefebvre et al, 2019) and its subset identity (Bell et al, 2018), another subset of legitimacy, belonging, remains underresearched.…”

Entrepreneurial identity and context: Current trends and an agenda for future research

“…The use of specific words associated with entrepreneurs will depend on the context. Bell et al (2018) discuss role identity among entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom and China. As part of their study, the authors utilize social identity theory to understand entrepreneurial identity.…”

Evolving Entrepreneurial Identities: An Exploratory Study

“…As nascent entrepreneurs reconcile their emerging entrepreneurial identity with the socially ascribed entrepreneurial identity and their other identities they carry out 'authenticity-driven identity work' (Lewis, 2013, p. 252) in order to frame their experience and create a cohesive story of the self (Mahto & Mcdowell, 2018;Zhang & Chun, 2017). This can result in nascent entrepreneurs describing themselves as an entrepreneur differently to the cultural understanding of the entrepreneurial actor (Bell et al, 2019).…”