Discourse analysis of employees’ identity work in the context of indoor air problems in the workplace

Authors

• Eerika Finell Tampereen yliopisto
• Eero Suoninen Tampereen yliopisto
• Tuija Seppälä Tampereen yliopisto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23990/sa.89539

Keywords:

indoor environmental problems, iden­tity, contested illnesses, discourse analysis

Abstract

The relationship between indoor air problems and health effects is somewhat contested. This may require intensive identity work from those who suffer from health problems associated with indoor air. Using discourse­oriented meth­ods, we analysed the identities that respondents constructed in writing about their experiences of indoor air problems in the workplace. The data came from essays collected through the Finnish Literature Society (N=20 respondents). We identi­fied six identities: the normal individual, the good person, the rational actor, the legitimate victim, the wise sufferer, and the promoter of in­group rights. These identities differed according to how the distinction between healthy and unhealthy people was drawn, whether individual charac­teristics or group membership were emphasised, the weakness or strength of the agency offered by the identity, and the stigmas the identities sought to counter. Individual respondents construct­ed several different identities, and the identity work involved striking a balance between them. The central aim of the identity work was to seek recognition as a moral person. Dealing respect­fully with patients in the context of indoor air problems requires healthcare professionals to be aware of the challenging identity work that pa­tients do, and to recognise the stigmas this identi­ty work seeks to address.