Session Summary

Session Number:179
Session ID:S42
Session Title:From Titles to Tatoos: Physical Identity Markers and Social Identity
Short Title:Identity Markers
Session Type:Showcase Symposium
Hotel:Hyatt West
Floor:LL1
Room:Water Tower
Time:Monday, August 09, 1999 8:30 AM - 10:20 AM

Sponsors

MOC  (Kathleen Sutcliffe)ksutclif@umich.edu (734) 764-2312 
OMT  (Joseph Porac)j-porac@staff.uiuc.edu (217) 244-7969 
OB  (Robert Liden)bobliden@uic.edu (312) 996-4481 

General People

Co-Chair Elsbach, Kimberly D. U. of California, Davis kdelsbach@ucdavis.edu (530) 752-0910 
Co-Chair McLean-Parks, Judi  Washington U. McLeanParks@mail.olin.wustl.edu (314) 935-7451 
Co-Chair Thomas-Hunt, Melissa C. Washington U. Thomashunt@mail.olin.wustl.edu (314)-935-4917 
Presenter Pratt, Michael G. U. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Mpratt@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu 217-244-6023 
Presenter Dukerich, Janet M. U. of Texas, Austin janet.dukerich@mail.utexas.edu 512-471-3676 
Presenter Rafaelli, Anat  U. of Haifa anatr@ie.technion.ac.il  
Presenter Glynn, Mary Ann  Emory U. unknown@emory.edu (555) 555-5555 
Presenter Simmons, Jessica L. U. of Texas, Austin jsimmons@uts.cc.utexas.edu   
Presenter Dickson, Kevin E. U. of Texas, Austin ked@mail.utexas.edu   

Submissions

Abstract

This symposium examines individuals’ and organizations’ display of physical markers designed to cue and affirm their social and organizational identities. The use of physical markers or artifacts in social identification processes is a commonly-discussed, yet under-studied aspect social identity theory. This symposium begins to expand this area of study beyond broad examinations of professional dress (Rafaeli & Pratt, 1993; Pratt & Rafaeli, 1997), to include a variety of material artifacts such as, displayed titles, awards, logos, casual dress, office décor, hairstyles, and make-up. The symposium uses audience participation in experiential exercises to introduce the idea of physical identity markers and to ground the presentations in real-life experience. Two presentations focus on individual-level display of physical identity markers and two focus on organization-level display of physical identity markers. All four papers represent novel examinations of physical identity markers in organizational contexts.