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
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Popular Models of
Identity
TREAT DIFFERENCES AS
•
•
•
•
Essential
Innate
Fixed
Independent and additive variables
Reified and universal
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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
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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.
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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
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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”
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Q&A
•What would it mean for you to
embrace simultaneity?
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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.
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Thank you
EVANGELINA HOLVINO, Ed.D.
CHAOS MANAGEMENT, LTD.
178 Meetinghouse Lane
BRATTLEBORO, VT 05301
802.257.5218
holvino@chaosmanagement.com
www.chaosmanagement.com
Dr. Holvino is also Affiliate Faculty
Center for Gender in Organizations, Simmons College,
Boston, Massachusetts
www.simmons.edu/som/cgo
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