Identity Work

Recognizing a Deviant Identity

Identity work is often considered something one does for oneself. However, recognizing an identity is also identity work, but it is done from the outside. An outsider's view of a deviant identity relates to choice, appearance, and length of time. It is a way to define and categorize what is normal. Deviant identities can be voluntary or involuntary, visible or invisible, and permanent or temporary rendering several potential combinations. A voluntary attribute is one that a person chooses, while an involuntary attribute is one a person does not choose. A visible attribute is easily seen, while an invisible attribute is hidden from casual view. Permanent attributes last a lifetime, while temporary ones may be changed, discarded, or hidden from view. A deviant identity depends largely on appearance for those making normative assessments.

An example of a voluntary, visible, and temporary deviant identity is someone with several facial piercings. The person chose to get the piercings in a highly visible place, but any jewelry can always be removed, and the skin repaired. An example of an involuntary, invisible, and permanent attribute is being deaf. Some illnesses are involuntary, invisible, and permanent. So long as an illness is concealed, it is unproblematic, but if it becomes common knowledge, it can be problematic for its bearer. When news outlets identified the Southern-style chef Paula Deen as having diabetes, her identity became somewhat problematic. As a result, she worked to portray herself as a chef with diabetic sensibilities. There are even deviant attributes that occupy liminal areas. An example of voluntary, concealable, and temporary attribute is a person with arms sleeved in tattoos. In this instance, tattooed arms can be displayed at the discretion of the bearer.

A deviant identity is thought of as if it had always existed, but it is something people continually produce and reproduce. A good deal of identity work is constructing the rules and social cues for a particular identity. This work occurs to establish the general guidelines for performing and recognizing an identity. Over time, expectations accompany identity performances. A masculine identity, for example, can be overt, such as when a boy is told big boys don't cry or rub some dirt on it in response to hurt feelings or an injury. In each case, normal human emotions are treated as abnormal and linked with discourses of femininity and homosexuality. Identity work can also be covert such as in the case of athletes managing sports injuries. When an athlete leaves a game but does not appear physically harmed, fans and commentators may question her or his toughness and loyalty. Thus, a professional athlete might hide an injury from team doctors to continue playing, which shows toughness and loyalty to the team. Social cues and rules help define and reinforce performances and give an audience the contours for recognizing an identity. Knowing the appropriate rules for performing an identity allows a person to maintain an unproblematic identity, while not knowing, forgetting, or ignoring identity expectations invites potentially negative sanctions such as a deviant identity.

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