ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the sense of self through a number of conceptions of identity and the debates between these different conceptions. Theories of self-identity have become something of a hot topic within social science including within the sociology of work and organization. Woodin describes the changes in identity within a working-class writer's group as its members engage in disputes and negotiation over what constitutes an authentic working-class writer. Sexuality and gender have likewise been transformed from ascribed collective categories to a problematic aspect of identity that requires a complex set of negotiations and choices, particularly when combined with other gendered assumptions that accompany work identities. Another feature that contributes to the complexity associated with identity theory for the newcomer is that numerous terms that seem to mean the same thing are, in fact, deployed to signify various differences in emphasis and understanding within debates on identity.
