Religion, Gender and Profession: The Role of Intersectionality in Developing a Professional Identity

Abstract

Since professionals in today's world belong to multiple social groups (e.g., age, religion, and gender), their personal identities may challenge the development of their professional identity. The theoretical framework of intersectionality provides a useful lens to examine the complexity of developing a multi-faceted professional identity. This study explored the experiences of female Jewish Ultra-Orthodox occupational therapists, who constitute agents of change in their community. It analyzes the challenges they face when their professional identity intersects with their gendered and religious identities. A thematic analysis of dilemma cases written by occupational therapy students revealed six key themes which suggest professional identity is neither unified nor exclusive, and hence cannot be developed without considering the impacts of each. These findings challenge previous studies of intersectionality that have focused on oppression and discrimination by suggesting that intersectionality, even when associated with disadvantaged social groups, can be harnessed to engender change, empowerment and growth. This study provides an opportunity to theorize the intersectionality of profession, gender and religion in organizational settings. It shows that viewing professional identity as multi-faceted may be of crucial importance as today's workforce becomes more culturally diverse, and inclusion dominates human resource management decision-making. The practical implications for management and curricula are discussed.