Multiple Identity Construction at Work: An Intrapersonal Identity Network Approach to Intersectionality

ABSTRACT Employees’ self‐concepts are complex because they consist of multiple and interrelated identities. To address this complexity, we adopt a micro‐foundational approach to network studies to explore how individuals construct and navigate their self‐concepts inside and outside of the workplace. We integrate social network and intersectionality theories to examine the extent to which professional, race, and gender identities are perceived as meaningful aspects of the self among Black and White employees. Specifically, we utilize various network metrics, including network size, density, conflict, centrality, and node characteristics (e.g., importance, advantage) to understand how professional, race, and gender identities inform how employees understand who they are. We also qualitatively examine a longitudinal dataset that reveals nuanced patterns in the ways Black and White men and women experience and manage their race, gender, and professional identities over time in nonspecific and work‐specific contexts. We highlight the importance of considering multiple, interrelated identities such as race, gender, and professional identities and their dynamic nature in shaping individuals’ self‐concepts. We discuss the theoretical and methodological implications of our findings. We also provide recommendations for strategic human resource management.