Abstract
Neoliberalism, precarious jobs, and control of work have multiple effects on academic identities as our allegiances to valued social groups and our connections to meaningful locations are challenged. While identities in neoliberal universities have received increasing research attention, sense of place has passed unnoticed in the literature. We engage with collaborative autoethnography and contribute to the literature in two ways. First, we show that while academic identities are put into motion by the neoliberal regime, they are constructed through mundane constellations of places and social entities. Second, we elucidate how academic identities today are characterized by restlessness and how academics use place and time to find meaning for themselves and their work. We propose a form of criticism to neoliberal universities that is sensitive to positionalities and places and offer ideas on how to build shared understandings that help us survive in the face of neoliberal standards of academic “excellence.”
Highlights
We, the three authors of this paper, are academics in different organizational positions and life stages
We ask the question: how and why does a sense of place influence construction of academic identities in the neoliberal university? We explore how identities are related to places and social groups and how they are in flux; how we are differently positioned to take up opportunities in the neoliberal university; and how we can raise our voices together to question the status quo
While identities in neoliberal universities have received increasing research attention, sense of place has passed unnoticed in the critical discussion
Summary
The three authors of this paper, are academics in different organizational positions and life stages. We share the sensation that our academic identities cannot escape places our work in neoliberal universities appears to be placeless. Our identities as academics are related to memberships in social entities such as academia, university, department, and research group (cf Tajfel and Turner, 1985).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
