Enhancing Independent Workers’ Thriving Through Disidentification
Mohamed, Neveen
Mohamed, Neveen
Publication Type
Conference Proceeding
Editor
Supervisor
Publication Year
2023-08
Journal
Book
Academy of Management Proceedings
Publication Volume
2023
Publication Issue
1
Publication Begin page
Publication End page
Publication Number of pages
Collections
Abstract
Research on independent work has provided key insights into the identity challenges that gig workers face, and the identity processes they engage in to overcome those challenges. While understanding how gig workers develop a sense of identity is important, in this research we suggest it is just as important for gig workers to come to an understanding of who they are not, and that disidentification with targets are also a key dimension of the work-self. To better understand the disidentification processes that gig workers engage in, we develop a grounded model of how workers use disidentification to thrive in the gig economy. Using qualitative data from 69 independent workers, we find that workers cultivate a repertoire of “unwanted selves” (i.e., who and what they are not) based on their states of disidentification with targets. This repertoire helps workers to free their work-self by understanding who and what they are not; and protect their work-self through engaging in boundary work tactics. Together, this contributes to enhancing workers’ thriving in the gig economy. Our grounded model thus offers an initial exploration of the role of disidentification in cultivating positive identity outcomes, and complements the research that has predominantly explored the identification processes that gig workers engage in.