Mobilising identity: entrepreneurial practice of a 'disadvantaged' identity.

James, Imaobong; Xiong, Lin; Anderson, Alistair R.

Abstract

We examine how female migrant entrepreneurs overturn disadvantage through social resourcing. We argue they are disadvantaged by the intersectionality of their identities; that social constructions and ensuing entrepreneurial expectations are a poor fit with their ascribed identity, that they are marginalised by their ‘otherness’. However,entrepreneurship is not only socially situated, but also socially enacted. We studied their entrepreneurial social enactment and found they had used agency to mobilise their identity. The shared identity of marginality as cultural strangers fostered a sense of togetherness as social capital. In turn, this produced group social responsibility, a socialised obligation to help each other. The entrepreneurs used this intangible resource to first establish their businesses then as a platform for wider engagements. We found that when the entrepreneurial self became superimposed on intersectional identity, disadvantage almost disappeared. Respondents reported confidence in themselves through their entrepreneurial achievement, paradoxically empowered by a negative social identity.

Citation

JAMES, I., XIONG, L. and ANDERSON, A. [2021]. Mobilising identity: entrepreneurial practice of a 'disadvantaged' identity. European management review [online], Early View. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/emre.12451

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 15, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Feb 6, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jan 19, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 7, 2023
• Journal: European management review
• Print ISSN: 1740-4754
• Electronic ISSN: 1740-4762
• Publisher: Wiley Open Access
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/emre.12451
• Keywords: Entrepreneurial practices; Small business owners; Identity; Marginality; Migrant women; Entrepreneurs; Disadvantaged entrepreneurs; Social capital; Networks; Intersectionality; Gender; Ethnic minorities; BAME; Strategy
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1127412