A risky mingling: academic identity in relation to stories of the personal and professional self

Abstract

Presentations of academic identity in relation to other narratives of the self are complicated in an age of mobility as an individual’s past and the present lie in different socio-cultural and political contexts. Such complication can be hidden or revealed as part of the story of the professional self such as a narrative which presents academic identity situated in the ebb and flow between personal and social identities. Narrative requires reflective reading and draws the reader into dialogue as academics present their stories and reflect on the mingling of identities. Academics relate the hurts of professional relationships to considering the blending of identities, and the positioning of the professional academic self in relation to academic organisations and social engagement. From these perspectives, a personal narrative reflects on a story where the professional coating of academic armour is removed to reveal an unexpected history hidden by perceptions of the professional self.