We Are Not Tourists! The Identity Work of Self-Initiated Expatriates

Abstract

This paper aims to further academic understanding of the ongoing identity work through which self-initiated expatriate (SIE) identifications and meaningful mobility motives are socially (re)constructed during global career moves. A pertinent question of SIE research concerns how motives and distinctive characteristics influence SIEs’ mobility decisions, adjustment and even performance. This study turns the question around by examining SIEs’ identity work in (re)constructing and actively maintaining their categories of identification and motive configurations during global mobility. The paper is based on a field-based interview study of SIEs’ identity work. This study shows how, as a consequence of engaging in many practices and experiences that resemble those of tourists, some SIEs devote considerable efforts to actively constructing, maintaining and communicating their identifications, motives and practices in direct opposition to that of tourists. SIEs may thus invoke stereotypes of tourists within their identity work of redefining their selves and resulting motivations abroad. SIEs’ identifications and motives are constructed through ongoing identity work, during expatriation, where they often feel compelled to construct social categories that differ as much as possible from those of tourists. Such identity work is accomplished at multiple, potentially mutually reinforcing levels, from institutions of expatriate communities to SIEs’ everyday identity work.