I am a migrant entrepreneur and I can make it: Enabling identities to overcome marginalisation

Abstract

Despite an increase in migrant entrepreneurship research in recent years, the current literature mainly focuses on the personal characteristics of migrant entrepreneurs and the influence of structural changes, often overlooking the role of the agency of migrants in overcoming marginalisation. The study addresses this gap by drawing on the identity work perspective and recategorisation theory to explore how migrant entrepreneurs use identity work as a form of agency to overcome marginalisation. Through in-depth interviews with migrant entrepreneurs in Australia, our study identifies three forms of marginalisation: structural, relational and sociocultural. We propose a typology of three forms of identity work – identity construction, mobilisation and recategorisation – which act as mechanisms through which migrant entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of their multiple identities to overcome marginalisation. Our study makes important theoretical and practical contributions by highlighting that migrant entrepreneurs are not passive subjects of marginalisation embedded within social structures but have the agency to construct and reshape their identities to overcome marginalisation in their new home country.