Impact of Cultural Identity Negotiation on Bridging Activities of Highly Qualified Migrants

Abstract

Based on 130 semi structured interviews, we looked at the interplay between identity and bridging skills of the first and second generation highly qualified migrants. Expanding current conceptualizations, we have illustrated that first generation migrants also develop a plural identity with the increase of stay in their receiving cultures, and second generation migrants can assess themselves as complete cultural members of their mainstream societies along with the gain of a higher socio-economic status and in order to increase their self-esteem. First generation migrants with both ethnic and plural identities, and second generation migrants with a mainstream identity have either deficient mainstream language knowledge or insufficient ethnic cultural internalization, which impede their bridging activities. Second generation migrants with a plural identity seem to be the ideal culture and language bridging agents due to their balanced embeddedness in their ethnic and mainstream backgrounds. Our study confirms the need to make a generational distinction upon looking into the identities and bridging skills of migrants. We have thus provided a more nuanced understanding of migrant identity processes and skill use, therefore positioning ourselves at the crossroad between international migration and international business research.