Simultaneity Identity models for the st 21 Century

Simultaneity Identity models for the st 21 Century EVANGELINA HOLVINO, Ed. D. © 2010 CHAOS MANAGEMENT, LTD.

What’s In A Place? Complicating Identity I am from Puerto Rico No. Really! But… where are you from? 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 (But, a P. R. in Vermont? ) My accent you mean? Not poor Not uneducated “Between” Latin America & U. S. A. Not the stereotype 2

Popular Models of Identity TREAT DIFFERENCES AS • Essential • Innate • Fixed • Independent and additive variables Reified and universal 3

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 4

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. 5

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 9

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” 12

Q&A • What would it mean for you to embrace simultaneity? 13

Recommended reading: • • Bell & Nkomo. Our Separate Ways. 2001 • 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. Dhingra, P. Managing Multicultural Lives: Asian American Professionals… 2007 Weber, L. Understanding race, class, gender and sexuality… 2010. 14

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 15