Constructing a positive work-related identity as a disabled worker through social comparison: the role of stigma and disability characteristics

Sophie Hennekam () and Sarah Richard ()
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Sophie Hennekam: Audencia Recherche - Audencia Business School
Sarah Richard: EM Strasbourg - École de Management de Strasbourg = EM Strasbourg Business School

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Abstract: Drawing on 36 semi-structured in-depth interviews with individuals with a variety of disabilities who are active in the labor force, we examine how such individuals construct positive work-related identities at work. The findings show how disabled workers use downward social comparison as a stigma identity management strategy, to compare themselves with individuals with disabilities that they perceive to be more stigmatizing, and how this affects their ability to construct a positive work-related identity. This perception of stigma is influenced by four disability characteristics: its visibility, severity, controllability and whether the disability needs workplace adaptations. Moreover, a range of contextual

Keywords: disability; stigma; work-related identity; social comparison; stigma identity management strategy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03232750
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published in Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2021, 125, pp.103528. ⟨10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103528⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03232750

DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103528

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