"We are chameleons" : exploring identity capital in a multicultural workplace environment

This exploratory research investigates James Cote's concept of "identity capital" in a multicultural workplace environment. Guided by Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical approach to capital, the focus is to examine the strategic deployment of identity capital between adults in a multicultural immigrant-serving agency in Mississauga, Ontario. After conducting fifteen interviews, the findings can be broadly summarized by the following: first, identity capital is deployed in social situations with the clients, colleagues and supervisor in the work place; second, the deployment of identity capital, through greeting, body language, finding connecting pieces or the method of communication is done unconsciously; third, the strategic deployment of identity capital is individualized to the audience; and fourth, identity presentations has the potential to benefit the individual, the audience and the community. This paper concludes that identity capital is a useful concept that demonstrates the varied resources individuals have in negotiating and navigating the changing social environment.