Negotiating Virtual Identity in an Age of Globalization

Virtual workplaces are no longer the province of young technophiles, and we must become more conscious of the particular challenges and issues those considered “nontraditional” face in this new environment. Continued globalization, fostered in part by computer-mediated communication, is bringing diverse populations together in virtual spaces; however, because we bring our culture with us when we move online, the default identity of the faceless virtual workplace becomes the young, white male. How do those considered nontraditional then negotiate their identity in order to contribute successfully? This chapter will explore this question with a case study of a Vietnam veteran in the workplace of a freshman writing classroom and, in doing so, will invite educators, employers, and researchers into discussions of virtual identity and interaction, how we perform ourselves in online workplaces, and fostering virtual communities.