Role of Identity in Creating Work Centrality among Young Sri Lankan Professionals in the Era of Late Capitalism

Abstract

This paper explores how contemporary young Sri Lankan professionals’ value centrality of work in their lives and how this perception is shaped by their identities. Based on the social constructionist paradigm, we have used qualitative methodology to explore the issue. Purposive sampling was employed in selecting the respondents for the study and in-depth interviews and group discussions were used as data collection methods. It was thus revealed that the respondents placed a high value in their work roles, which is mainly due to the identity created through work. Even though some respondents’ views indicated a form of identity fragmentation, they were not directly linked with the consequences of contemporary postmodern, late capital social conditions. Further analysis into the dominant role of identity formation in creating work revealed that the national culture plays a dominant role in shaping the work centrality among young Sri Lankan professionals even in the era of late capitalism.