Daily experiences of ethnic minority women at work: Moving toward ingroups and outgroups is related to identity motives fulfillment

At work, members of negatively stereotyped groups often use coping mechanisms to deal with identity-based threat, such as moving toward or away from ingroups or outgroups. We investigate whether these coping mechanisms are related to fulfillment of or costs for key identity motives for wellbeing and motivation, namely belonging, self-efficacy, self-esteem, perceived control, and optimal distinctiveness. As such, this study provides an overarching picture of the potential consequences of using coping strategies for minority members’ identity as they deal with stigma at work. A weekly experience-sampling study was conducted among women with a migration background (N = 296 data points nested in 63 participants) on their experiences at work. Results showed that, in general, moving toward in- and outgroups was related to identity motive fulfillment, while moving away from in- and outgroups was related to costs for identity motives. Effects were strongest for moving toward groups and for identity motives efficacy, esteem, control, and belonging. Together, these results suggest the importance of moving toward groups at work for one’s identity.