“Really being yourself”? Racial minority entrepreneurs navigating othering and authenticity through identity work
Résumé
Purpose Drawing on an intersectional perspective on racial, migrant and entrepreneurial identities, this paper investigates the identity work of racial minority entrepreneurs with native-born and migrant backgrounds, confronted to experiences of othering in a White entrepreneurial ecosystem. Design/methodology/approach The study takes a qualitative-interpretivist approach and builds on six cases of racial minority entrepreneurs in nascent stages of venture development within the Dutch technology sector. The dataset comprises 24 in-depth interviews conducted over the course of one and a half year, extensive case descriptions and online sources. The data is thematically and inductively analysed. Findings Despite strongly self-identifying as entrepreneurs, the research participants feel marginalised and excluded from the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which results in ongoing threats to their existential authenticity as they build a legitimate entrepreneurial identity. Minority entrepreneurs navigate these threats by either downplaying or embracing their marginalised racial and/or migrant identities. Originality/value The study contributes to the literature on the identity work of minority entrepreneurs. The paper reveals that, rather than “strategising away” the discrimination and exclusion resulting from othering, racial minority entrepreneurs seek to preserve their sense of existential authenticity and self-worth, irrespective of entrepreneurial outcomes. In so doing, the study challenges the dominant perspective of entrepreneurial identity work among minority entrepreneurs as overly instrumental and market-driven. Moreover, the study also contributes to the literature on authenticity in entrepreneurship by highlighting how racial minority entrepreneurs navigate authenticity threats while building legitimacy in a White ecosystem.
Purpose: Drawing on an intersectional perspective on racial, migrant, and entrepreneurial
identities, this paper investigates the identity work of racial minority entrepreneurs with nativeborn
and migrant backgrounds, confronted to experiences of othering in a White
entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Methodology: The study takes a qualitative-interpretivist approach and builds on six cases of
racial minority entrepreneurs in nascent stages of venture development within the Dutch
technology sector. The dataset comprises 24 in-depth interviews conducted over the course of
one and a half year, extensive case descriptions, and online sources. The data is thematically
and inductively analysed.
Findings: Despite strongly self-identifying as entrepreneurs, the research participants feel
marginalised and excluded from the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which results in ongoing threats
to their existential authenticity as they build a legitimate entrepreneurial identity. Minority
entrepreneurs navigate these threats by either downplaying or embracing their marginalised
racial and/or migrant identities.
Originality: The study contributes to the literature on the identity work of minority
entrepreneurs. The paper reveals that, rather than “strategising away” the discrimination and
exclusion resulting from othering, racial minority entrepreneurs seek to preserve their sense of
existential authenticity and self-worth, irrespective of entrepreneurial outcomes. In so doing,
the study challenges the dominant perspective of entrepreneurial identity work among minority
entrepreneurs as overly instrumental and market-driven. Moreover, the study also contributes
to the literature on authenticity in entrepreneurship by highlighting how racial minority
entrepreneurs navigate authenticity threats while building legitimacy in a White ecosystem.