Situational, Cultural and Societal Identities: Analysing Subject Positions as Classifications, Participant Roles, Viewpoints and Interactive Positions

In: Journal for the theory of social behaviour, Volume 44, Issue 1, p. 80-98

Abstract

AbstractIn this articleIdevelop tools for analyzing the identities that emerge in qualitative material.Iapproach identities as historically, socially and culturally produced subject positions, as processes that are in a constant state of becoming and that receive their temporary stability and meaning in concrete contexts and circumstances.Isuggest that the identities and subject positions that materialize in qualitative material can be analyzed from four different perspectives. They can be approached by focusing on (1)classificationsthat define the boundary lines between 'us' and 'them', as (2)participant rolesthat refer to the temporal aspect of subject positions and outline their meaning for action, as (3)structures of viewpointandfocalizationthat frame meaning and order to opinions and experiences of the world, and as (4)interactive positionsthat articulate the roles and identities taken by the participants of communication.