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Conceptualizing ‘Teacher Identity’: A Political Approach

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Research on Teacher Identity

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to provide a conceptualization of teacher identity that acknowledges the intersection of identity and politics and the consequences of this acknowledgment in theorizing teacher identity as being politicized, discontinuous, and shifting. We present a review of scholarship focusing on teacher identity, highlighting four aspects that seem important in the process of teacher identity formation: emotion aspects; narrative and discourse aspects; reflection aspects; and agency/structure aspects. We then propose an understanding of teacher identity that recognizes the intersection of identity and politics, suggesting that (a) it promotes a more holistic understanding of teacher identity that does not ignore the influence of power relations and politics in teacher identity formation; and (b) it recognizes the prospects of developing a critical and transformative orientation towards the conceptualization of teacher identity. Finally, we suggest how future research and practice can benefit from acknowledging the intersection of identity and politics and their influence on the development of professional identities in teaching.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For a more detailed discussion of the four aspects, see Zembylas and Chubbuck (2015).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program of Educational Studies, Open University of Cyprus, Latsia, Cyprus

    Michalinos Zembylas

  2. Department of Educational Policy and Leadership, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Sharon Chubbuck

Authors
  1. Michalinos Zembylas
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  2. Sharon Chubbuck
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Correspondence to Michalinos Zembylas .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    Paul A. Schutz

  2. University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA

    Ji Hong

  3. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    Dionne Cross Francis

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Zembylas, M., Chubbuck, S. (2018). Conceptualizing ‘Teacher Identity’: A Political Approach. In: Schutz, P., Hong, J., Cross Francis, D. (eds) Research on Teacher Identity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93836-3_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93836-3_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-93835-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-93836-3

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