When entrepreneurial identity meets multiple social identities

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims at exploring the dynamics of multiple identities of women entrepreneurs (WE). The paper analyse how WE do identity work in relation to specific identity regulations in the particular French cultural context. The objective is to understand how the entrepreneurial identity process of women is built through both confrontation and synergy with other social identities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper opted for a qualitative and abductive methodological design. In total, 41 French WE from diverse business activities were interviewed. The empirical material was subject to thematic analysis. Findings – The findings reveal the ability of these WE to deal with numerous and various identities. Their daily strategies to accommodate different roles depict how their entrepreneurial activity is intertwined with their personal and social life. The paper are far away from the picture of a monolithic entrepreneur without social dimensions. Given that, the findings broaden the too simplistic vision of WE as an homogeneous whole. Within this group of French WE, the analysis reveals that forms of identity work are along a continuum from accepting conventional norms and social expectations and integrating them in self-identity, or challenging them by accommodation or transformation, or, in turn, by redefining and proposing new norms. It also brings a nuanced understanding of complexity and multidimensionality of their daily life. Originality/value – Finally by studying French WE, the paper identify new practices, new interactions between social roles which could be also relevant for men. In fact, the study challenges the traditional framework on entrepreneurship, which produces an incomplete view of entrepreneurs, by omitting historical and social variables. This disembodied vision of entrepreneur could not be applied to women and probably could not be applied to contemporaneous men either.

Identity work in female‐led creative businesses

“…These maternal aspects echo the study by Chasserio et al () suggesting that traditional social identities for women in western cultures are primarily related to the private sphere: mother, wife, sister or daughter. Women take on these social identities by adopting specific roles and tasks considered to be feminine (notably nurturing and caring roles, maintaining family life and supporting the husband or partner) to follow and fit specific social rules and norms (Westwood & Bhachu, ).…”

“…What is meant by identity and by identity work? Identity is a complex and multidimensional concept (Ahl, ; Alvesson & Willmott, ; Chasserio, Pailot, & Poroli, ) which is not only subject to change but is also fluid and dynamic in addressing social, economic or organizational change (Gill & Larson, ; Hytti, ). Each person has a range of identities including a self‐defined, personal and a social identity, within the bounds of perception of oneself and the perceptions of others about oneself (Alsos et al, ; Watson, ).…”

Navigating the family business: A gendered analysis of identity construction of daughters

“…We rely on the social constructivist view of identities, understanding them as emergent and fluid and as a process of becoming (Down, 2006;Down and Warren, 2008;Hytti, 2005;Kasperova and Kitching, 2014;Watson, 2009;Warren, 2004). Within this view, identities can overlap, enrich one another, and be in conflict (Chasserio, Pailot and Poroli , 2014;Down and Warren, 2008;Benschop, 2007, 2009;Hytti, 2005). We also lean on the social theory of belonging (May, 2011;Stead, 2015), arguing that a key element in identity construction is creating a sense of belonging linked to self-confirmation (Hogg, 2006;Marlow and McAdam, 2015).…”

Entrepreneurs’ social identity and the preference of causal and effectual behaviours in start-up processes

“…Social identity theory is thus interested in the social identities gained from group memberships (Brown 2000;Mills and Pawson 2011), and the person defines himself or herself as a member of a group or social category. Again, individuals do not usually have a single social identity but more often have hybrid identities (Fauchart and Gruber 2011), whereby individuals occupy several social identities that can overlap, enrich one another and conflict (Chasserio, Pailot, and Poroli 2014;Hytti 2005;Essers andBenschop 2007, 2009;Down and Warren 2008). Social identities are socially defined and come with certain norms to which the individual must conform (Chasserio et al 2014).…”