Identity Construction Research Articles

Religious Identity Construction of Filipino Catholic Adolescents: A Narrative Identity Approach

Religious Identity Construction of Filipino Catholic Adolescents: A Narrative Identity Approach

From pages to posts: the evolution of memory-making from scrapbooking to Instagram

This paper examines the evolving practices of the act of scrapbooking and the application Instagram, emphasising their similarities and differences within the framework of digital culture. It analyses how the collective, tactile, and reflective nature of traditional scrapbooking has transitioned into the curated, and instantaneous experience of Instagram. The research explores the emotional and behavioural shifts associated with these forms of self-documentation, considering the interplay between physical and digital spaces and the evolution of self-representation within personal archives. Drawing on structured interviews with 35 participants in Turkey, all over the age of 30 and experienced both practices, the study reveals distinct strategies employed by individuals for emotional and aesthetic self-expression. Motivations for identity construction, memory preservation, and social connectivity shape these strategies. The findings highlight the coexistence of communal and individualistic tendencies within these practices, illustrating broader societal shifts in visual culture and memory-making. The article argues that personal archiving practices reflect an ongoing transformation influenced by technological advancements and shifting cultural values. While rooted in shared cultural traditions, scrapbooking and Instagram reveal significant divergences in how individuals engage with their emotions, self-presentation, and collective memory. The study concludes that individuals develop tailored approaches to satisfy both personal and social needs, demonstrating the evolving relationship between authenticity, performance, and memory in the digital age.

Analysis of “Virtual Family” Influencers Operational Strategies on Douyin in China: A Case Study of “Sharing Daily Life with Daughter”

In recent years, the phenomenon of “Kinship Disconnection” among young people has triggered heated discussions. In the process of “Kinship Disconnection”, young people are keen on “Kinship Recognition” in the virtual world, and establishing new kinship relationships with “Virtual Family”. This study, employing content analysis, conducts an in-depth examination of 147 short videos posted by the “Sharing Daily Life with Daughter” Douyin account from September 13, 2023, to October 22, 2024, aiming to explore the operational strategies of “Virtual Family” influencers. The findings reveal that, in terms of content, identity construction, and emotional value are provided through the presentation of warm and loving parental images, immersive scenarios, and diversified video production methods; in terms of users, the viewing group is dominated by females aged 18-30 years old, and there are more negative tendencies in the comment section, with fewer interactions with bloggers; in terms of business, advertisement implantation is the main profit-making method. Further analysis shows that the emotional engagement and commercial strategies of “Virtual Family” influencers are closely intertwined. Influencers attract attention by offering emotional support and psychological comfort, thereby establishing an audience base for advertising placement and achieving commercial monetization. However, this operational model is fraught with challenges, such as trust issues, media dependency, and audience commodification. While virtual family influencers can partially fulfill emotional substitution needs, the potential risks they entail warrant careful consideration.

Heathen Gods Beyond Nationalism and Race?

Herein I address the development of Heathenism in Scandinavia, with an emphasis on Sweden as a case study. I argue that Heathenism in Scandinavia, due to the central role that Old Norse religion and the Viking Age have for the construction of Scandinavian identities, needs to be analyzed in a different manner than Heathenisms outside of Scandinavia, especially regarding ethnicity. A special focus is on the role that the Scandinavian landscape and environment have had on the development of Heathenism. This is exemplified by the influence of Nordic Animism and how it relates to attempts to create a non-racial ecosophical form of Heathenism. I assess whether such a scenario is realistic or if Heathenism will always maintain an ethnic aspect. I concluded that although the ethnic aspect of Heathenism remains it must be analyzed from a different perspective, rather than exclusively an expression of far-right ideology, or exclusivity.

How Does Cantonese Media Affect Chinese Cultural Identity Among Malaysian Chinese?

Cantonese is the carrier of Chinese cultural memory and nostalgia. Malaysian Chinese peo-ple have constructed their ethnic cultural identity using Cantonese media. Nevertheless, it remains relatively unclear how Cantonese media affects the construction of Chinese cultural identity in three dimensions (cognition, emotion, and behavior). The present study exam-ined the relationship between Cantonese media use and Chinese cultural identity among Malaysian Chinese in these three dimensions. Based on a survey questionnaire and in-depth interviews with ethnic Chinese in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the analyses yielded three main findings. First, media exposure and the perceived recreational, cultural, and instrumental value of Cantonese media use had a significant positive impact on Chinese cultural cogni-tion. Second, the perceived recreational and cultural value of Cantonese media had a signif-icant positive impact on Chinese cultural emotion. Third, the perceived recreational and in-strumental value of Cantonese media had a significant positive impact on Chinese cultural behavior. We highlight the importance of perceived recreational, cultural, and instrumental value and exposure to Cantonese media in shaping three dimensions of Chinese cultural identity and suggest attaching importance to and supporting the development of native lan-guage media for the diaspora to realize the integrated development of cultural globalization and diversification.

On the dynamics of intersectional (in)visibility: Women early career researchers negotiating authenticity at work

How do women negotiate and express authenticity in professional contexts where their presence and identities are largely rendered (in)visible? We draw on intersectional invisibility as our conceptual lens to explore how women early career researchers subjectively negotiate authenticity given prevailing conditions of visibility, invisibility and hypervisibility at work. Based on semi-structured interviews with recipients of the Organisation for Women in Science from Developing Countries (OWSD)-Elsevier award, we illuminate how (in)visible conditions shape the subjective negotiation of authenticity, informing the agentic capacity of women researchers to express themselves authentically in professional settings. Our findings reveal the negotiation of authenticity is closely tied to gender performance in a manner that aligns with perceived professionalism. This entails compartmentalising personal values when feeling invisible, experiencing a heightened awareness of context-specific boundaries when visibility increases and enacting adaptive agency when hypervisible. We thus posit authenticity as a continuous process of ongoing identity construction and negotiation rather than a static ideal.

Warriors, Weather, and Wolves oh My!

Herein I discuss how contemporary Heathens and modern Vikings perceive and communicate about ‘nature’ as both a setting in which they are situated and an internal quality that they perceive themselves and others to possess. I refer to these as outer and inner nature, respectively. To contextualize these terms, I begin by discussing how warrior identity and perceptions of nature are an intricate part of Heathen and modern Viking identity construction and communication. Elaborating on this, I show how ideas about nature as binarily divided into inner and outer nature influences tendencies towards environmental determinism among heathens and modern Vikings, and how the same binary categories are present in the widespread tendency for Heathens and modern Vikings to identify with wolves or even pretend that they are wolves. This phenomenon I refer to as wolf play.

Becoming a Teacher, Coexisting with Emotions: A Follow-up Study on Emotion Regulation of ECE Student Teachers in Teaching Internship Context in China

Abstract Early childhood education (ECE) student teachers experience “reality shock” and a heavy burden of emotional regulation as they encounter many challenges in their internships, such as failing to cater for children's needs and lacking autonomy and efficacy. Effective emotion regulation can alleviate the impact of negative emotions and facilitate the construction of teacher identity. However, existing research has paid less attention to the emotion regulation of student teachers, especially ECE student teachers. Previous researchers mainly categorize in-service teachers’ emotion regulation strategies, whereas ECE student teachers’ emotion regulation strategies are more nuanced and in need of additional theoretical perspective to uncover their emotion regulation strategies. To address the research gap, we conducted a qualitative and follow-up research to examine the emotional experiences and emotion regulation strategies of 25 ECE student teachers in Guangzhou, China, during their internships. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and critical incidents forms. Informed by an integrative perspective, this study classified the emotion regulation strategies of ECE student teachers into four categories, including expressive regulation, cognitive change, behavioral adjustment, and sequential regulation. The study also analyzed the emotion regulation strategies at different stages of their internships, presenting the uniqueness of ECE student teachers’ emotional regulation in the Chinese cultural context. The Chinese social culture of “ren qing” and the power hierarchy in classrooms have led ECE student teachers to use suppressing strategy to regulate emotions. This study enriches our understanding of ECE student teachers’ emotions and provides implications for ECE teacher education.

From ‘fuck’ to ‘possess’: intercultural mediation and identity construction in Chinese fan translations of Spanish-language songs

ABSTRACT This study reports fan translation of lyrics as a novel digital practice of intercultural communication and language learning. We employ digital ethnography to interview representative Chinese fan translators of Spanish-language songs and analyse their intercultural mediation strategies. By creatively combining main text and paratext, these systematic mediation strategies effectively facilitate the local community’s shift from ethnocentrism to ethnorelativism. Moreover, they enable fan translators’ self-positioning in the translated text as visible intercultural mediators and personal development of plurilingual and intercultural competence. Our findings highlight the significant potential of intercultural mediation in translation to foster cultural and linguistic diversity.

Cross-sector collaboration by endowed foundations: Organizational identity matters

ABSTRACT Collaboration between corporations, government and non-profit organizations is necessary for tackling complex social issues, but Dutch philanthropic endowed foundations hardly collaborate with these actors and therefore seem to miss opportunities for reaching more social results, even as their financial independence appears to provide unique possibilities for them to contribute. Organizational identity theory offers a new perspective to studying the collaborative behaviour of these foundations, zooming in on how financial independence figures in how philanthropic foundations understand who they are. This article explores how philanthropic foundations’ constructions of organizational identity relate to their financial independence and how these constructions are reflected in their understandings and decision-making regarding cross-sector collaboration. Via interviews with leaders of endowed foundations and experts, we found that, while the financially independent position of these foundations gives them freedom to operate and to opt for cross-sector collaboration, in practice, financial and founder-related features of their organizational identity can play a role in decision-making against collaboration.

Licenciatura X Estágio Supervisionado: A Importância do Conteúdo na Formação de Futuros Professores

This work presents reflections on the importance of educational practice experienced during the activities of theSupervised Curricular Internship in the school environment in the Social Sciences course with an emphasis onSociology. The importance of this study emphasizes the training of future teachers who will be available to buildadequate and meaningful knowledge for all those involved. Through the development of the study, we sought toanswer how the experience of the Supervised Internship can collaborate in the training of future teachers? Throughexperiences, literatures and concepts related to the theme, and still, it is necessary to present that the internshipexperiences were carried out in a descriptive way. Regarding the objectives of the scientific article, they are: Toconceptualize in a general way Supervised Internship and its importance in teaching, also to describe some termssuch as democracy and citizenship at school, to identify the importance of the teacher's language in humanformation, to show some relationships of failure and school success, realizing the role of teacher mediation in therelationship between school and curriculum, providing opportunities for the concept of professional ethics, andalso expressing the importance of interpersonal relationships in the work environment. The supervised internshippromotes practical experience and is fundamental to the enjoyment of the degree as a whole. Still, it is an activitythat contributes to the construction of professional identity, as the teacher is the subject of their own training, whichfavors a common vision and work in the educational context. It is in this activity that it is possible to put into actionthe knowledge acquired during academy

Fragmented Selves and the Politics of Memory Exploring Exile and Identity in Malika Oufkir's Freedom: The Story of My Second Life

Autobiography has increasingly achieved access in literary and cultural scholarship bringing attention to the ways in which the self is perceived and (re)created in virtue of our memories. To investigate the interrelation between self and memory, this paper is engaged with the following questions: what do we mean by the self or himself (autos)? How memory is constituted in the self? How can the self be written into narrative? Can the self be explained by in terms of memory? By introducing the concept of the self on account of these questions, this paper hopes to show that self and memory are intertwined through the process of constructing stories we tell, share and/or conceal about ourselves and others. Within this ambit, this paper seeks to examine Malika Oufkir’s Freedom: The Story of My Second Life through the prism of exile, memory, and identity (re)construction. It investigates how this narrative navigates imprisonment, displacement and estrangement. Central to this analysis is the representation of memory as both a site of agony and a mechanism for resistance, through which Oufkir reclaims agency over her identity. In short, the paper also explores the intricate interplay between personal and political exile in the sense that it delves deep into how the author’s experiences reflect broader themes of imprisonment, displacement, fragmentation and estrangement in the postcolonial context. Drawing upon theories of autobiographical memory and collective identity, this paper examines how Oufkir’s narrative intertwines personal and collective histories, revealing the complex interplay between individual memories and broader socio-cultural contexts. In essence, this paper adopts an eclectic methodology to address the question of autobiographical construction of self and memory. As such, the paper focuses on the transformative role of exile in shaping Malika’s identity and memory. By situating Oufkir’s narrative within the framework of gendered resistance, this paper seeks to illustrate how she transcends the boundaries of imprisonment and exilic condition in order to reconstruct a sense of being and knowing in a place and time in a world that remains deeply fractured by cultural and historical divides. Eventually, the paper underscores Freedom as a powerful testament to the enduring struggle for selfhood in the face of dislocation and marginalization.

Virtual identity construction in translanguaging spaces: unveiling the semiotic power of emojis in Lil Miquela's Instagram posts

This article explores the dynamics of digital identity construction and emotional storytelling through the case study of Lil Miquela, a prominent virtual influencer on Instagram. By examining her strategic use of emojis as semiotic resources that transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries, the study highlights their role in fostering cross-cultural dialogue and reinforcing her polycentric identity. Drawing on Bakhtin's chronotope, sentiment analysis and computer-mediated communication and semiotic models, this research unravels how she performs her identity across diverse spatio-temporal contexts and hybrid digital environments, on the one hand, and how emojis function as icons, indices, and symbols, shaping her digital narratives and emotional engagement, on the other. In challenging traditional notions of selfhood and authenticity, this study offers novel insights into the fluid and dynamic nature of virtual identities. It contributes to the discourse on digital identity by emphasising the interplay of semiotic, affective, and chronotopic dimensions in constructing and perceiving virtual personae, with implications for engaging diverse audiences in hybridised translanguaging spaces.

‘You’re straight until proven gay’ – a qualitative exploration of identity development among gay men who have ‘come-out’ as ‘late bloomers’

ABSTRACT ‘Coming out of the closet’ or ‘coming out’ describes the public disclosure of LGBTQIA+ identity. This process involves social challenges, including rejection, harassment, discrimination, and violence, rooted in a history of persecution. Coming out as a ‘late bloomer’ (mid-20s onwards) adds complexities, as individuals transition from perceived heterosexuality to homosexuality, disrupting existing social dynamics and impacting mental health. Despite identity development models since the 1970s, little research explores late bloomers’ identity construction. This study analyzed qualitative data from seven late-blooming gay men to understand their identity formation and mental health impacts. Thematic analysis identified stages of identity construction—awareness (with denial, concealment, and trial), expression, pride, and championing—shaped by culture and context. Self-acceptance was ongoing, influencing their gay identity perception. This research enhances understanding of their experiences and informs therapeutic interventions and support initiatives

Editorial: Gendered Cultures in Platform Economies—Entertainment, Expertise and Online Selfhood

This thematic issue examines the gendered dimensions of platform economies, focusing on the construction of gendered online selfhood. Through the affordances of social media platforms, users expand the range of topics and content accessible to the public, simultaneously exposing these subjects to increased visibility and potential debate. Platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Twitch, X, and Telegram enable anyone to create channels and publicize content on virtually any topic, fostering niche communities. In other words, platforms, driven by their pursuit of attention, time, and data, cannot be analyzed solely through a business or organizational lens. The economic dimension is intertwined with cultural formations—beliefs, values, and identity constructions—which carry an anthropological dimension. In this thematic issue, we are particularly interested in the gendered aspects of this intertwining.

EXPRESS: CONSTRUCTING AN ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTITY WITH POLITICAL IDEOLOGY: THE CASE OF HUAWEI, 1987-2020

Leveraging archival data, we study how Huawei used Chinese communist political ideology to construct its organizational identity. Covering the time from its founding in 1987 to 2020, we show how Huawei appropriated Fen Dou as a core idea-element of Chinese communist political ideology to develop its identity as a ‘national industry revitalizer,’ neutralized it as it internationalized and claimed to be an ‘international corporate citizen,’ and then repurposed it as it sought to help advance all humankind—akin to a ‘global technology leader.’ By mapping the historical evolution of Huawei across different junctures and processual periods, we develop middle-range theory on the role of political ideology in identity construction. We contribute to the literature by introducing political ideology as a resource for identity construction, mapping the process of identity construction with ideology across different contexts, and articulating a resonant theoretical narrative whereby political ideology emerges as a double-edged sword.

Digital lecturers in the making: Identity construction in Indonesia’s online English language teaching

The change in Indonesia's educational paradigm has substantially affected the training of aspiring lecturers teaching English as a second language. These lecturers must now instruct using a blended approach, incorporating online teaching sessions where they must produce their instructional strategies. This study examines how English Language Lecturers develop their identity while engaging in online teaching. This qualitative case study research offers a comprehensive examination of the development of professional identities among four lecturers based on interviews conducted with them. The data were gathered via semi-structured interviews and reflective writings. The interview questions were formulated according to Kelchtermans [1] framework of Lecturer Professional Identity. The data analysis utilized thematic analysis. The coding commenced with preliminary data analysis to discern repeating patterns and topics. The results indicate that the shift to online teaching has transformed these lecturers into 'digital lecturers.' Their identities are affected by several elements, including task beliefs, personality traits, job motivation, self-image, and future aspirations. In addition, factors such as teaching experience, feedback, and competency in technology are crucial in shaping this process of identity formation. The study provides guidelines for improving the identity development of English Language Lecturers in digital educational contexts.

Language, Power, Politics and Conflict: Issues Pertaining to Language and Identity

Language exercises a power in the very way that it operates. Words are imbued with a strength that has the potential to carry histories and subsequently create futures. Reality is essentially constituted in the symbolic interpretation of this language. This paper endeavors to discuss this feature of language paying close attention to its facets which serve to influence the creation and circulation of reality that is fundamentally biased. It examines the creation of binaries in this system of discourse which is the primary means through which it demarcates reality and constructs identities. The paper, also, further, looks into the different dimensions of power exercised by language, and scrutinizes the multiple voices housed in a text.

Young Councilwomen in Spain: Evolution of Political Engagement and Political Identity Construction

The participation of women in legislative bodies has increased over recent decades. Despite this, however, women are still underrepresented at all political levels. The aim of this paper is to explore the political commitment and political identity construction of young women in Spain, by analysing the evolution of certain female members of the Spanish political party Podemos. The study followed a qualitative design, using the biographical method, with a series of semi-structured interviews being conducted to chart the evolution of councilwomen from this left-wing political party. The results were analysed on the basis of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory of human development. The findings indicate that the development of participants’ political commitment was influenced by factors from the microsystem and macrosystem. This piece of research aimed to contribute to the study of gender, youth, identity and political commitment, in order to expand our understanding of the life stories of young women who stand for election to local councils, taking the diversity of their trajectories and experiences into account also.

Construction of the North Caucasian macroregional identity: historical and political science discourse

The relevance of the study of the macroregional North Caucasian identity increases due to the fact that in almost all strategic documents concerning the prospects for the development of the North Caucasus, it is defined as one of the priority macro-regions of the Russian Federation. In this regard, it is necessary to turn to the analysis of changes in the administrativeterritorial structure in the North Caucasus, which will allow us to identify the historical and socio-cultural roots of the macro-regional identity, as well as the role of each region in creating a common socio-cultural picture of this macroregion. This article analyzes the process of formation of the North Caucasian macroregional identity from the standpoint of constructivism. Based on the experience of transformations of the administrative-territorial structure of the North Caucasus in the ХХ—ХХI centuries, the author identifies six stages of constructing this level of identity. It is noted that political spatial-territorial strategies play a significant role in the process of strengthening Russian national identity in the macroregion. The thesis is argued that macroregional identity is a tool capable of uniting and rallying all ethnic groups of the North Caucasus in order to strengthen mutually beneficial interregional cooperation. In connection with the emergence of new identitarian discourses, the author proposes to expand the concept of multilevel identity and to integrate the macroregional level as an intermediate level between regional and national identities.