Identity dilemmas in pursuing political dreams: exploring situational professional identity among grassroots young selected graduates in China

Professional identity is an indispensable element for young university graduates seeking political advancement after entering the civil service; however, this identity is often vulnerable to disruption in practical workplace situations. In this article, we explore the professional identity dilemmas of grassroots young selected graduates (GYSGs) in China, who are positioned as potential political leaders. Analysis of interview data from 38 GYSGs in China shows that participants’ professional identity construction is situational—being conceptualized as “situational identity”—and that their professional identity is profoundly influenced by institutional and cultural situations, as well as experiences in the interactions of everyday social relationships. In these interactive situations, we identified four specific themes of professional identity dilemmas: (1)Institutional identity dilemma, rooted in hierarchical identity differences and a lack of promotion opportunities; (2) cultural identity dilemma, stemming from identity distinction under cultural circles and habitus conflicts under linguistic cultures; (3) social identity dilemma, originating from professional stigmatization and marginalization, as well as material comparison and relative deprivation; and (4) self-identity dilemma, primarily caused by the loss of a sense of belonging and intimate relationships.In complex workplace contexts where young people like GYSGs face heightened professional identity challenges, situational identity provides a crucial lens for understanding their dilemmas.