Diversity is a very complex and controversial issue. It embraces the so-called
"minorities", not in numerical terms but in terms of power. The groups that compose
the minorities are the black, the disabled, women and the indigenous, among others.
Although there are advances in this discussion, including in the legislation field,
there are still gaps when it comes to employment for these minorities. For this
paper, we chose, among the minorities, people with disabilities (PWDs), because
according to the International Labor Organization
(2010)Organização Internacional do Trabalho (2010). Disability and
work. Brasília. Recuperado em 23 janeiro, 2011, de
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/skills/disability/index.htm.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employ...
, they represent 10% of the world’s population, among which
approximately 72% are at the working age. The objective of this paper was to
understand the identity dynamics of PWDs inserted in work organizations, located in
Brazil and in the United States. To this end, we elaborated a theoretical framework
mainly based on the identity from a sociological approach by Dubar (2005)Dubar, C. (2005) A socialização: construção das identidades
sociais e profissionais. São Paulo: Martins Fontes.. We opted for an exploratory and qualitative
research, based on an interpretive approach. The techniques of data collection used
were semi-structured interviews and documentary research. Interviews were conducted
with twelve PWDs in Brazil and eight in the United States, men and women. The
interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed through content analysis. In both
countries the jobs of the interviewed PWDs appeared as an important tool to give
meaning to their lives. Moreover, one of the main obstacles faced by the interviewed
PWD with regard to employment was the disability itself. Thus, it was possible to
notice a conflict between who they are and whom they think they should be in order to
work. It was observed that the individual's identity is a result of the movements of
construction and reconstruction of his or her (many) identities and that one cannot
identify oneself only with one’s eyes; instead, they need to see through someone
else’s eyes.
Identity; People with disabilities; Work; Organization