Role identities comprise of goals, values, beliefs,
norms, interaction styles, and time horizons
associated with a given role
Two main forms of professional identities:
– Expected: employer expectations and beliefs
– Experienced: own expectations and beliefs
Organisations employing professionals (e.g.
surgeons, consultants, lawyers, academics) expect
their workers to conform to the ideal worker image
When a worker’s experienced professional identity
does not meet the ideal worker image (i.e.
expected professional identity) conflict arises
This expectation has lead to persisting gender
inequality in the workplace