Pandemic experiences and notions of identity

Abstract

The disruption of the global COVID-19 pandemic universally affected existential lifeworlds, particularly with the suspension of social activities and lockdown measures that restricted external experiences. Reflecting back over the pandemic years, and the impact from the disruption, reveals some interesting change in individual ideologies and practices. For example, working remotely online encouraged some employees to move to more rural locations where property is cheaper, more people purchased pets and began to enjoy outdoor activities, such as paddle boarding where sales of related products grew. Similarly, sales for arts and craft materials also grew, and the phenomena of ‘quiet quitting’ where work life balance acknowledgment resulted in preferences to experience ‘life’ rather than ‘work’. All of this represents a shifting of priorities amid an appreciation for a more holistic lifestyle, as was evident in media and marketing portrayals of the ‘new normal’. Yet, little is known on how the lockdown affected perceptions of self and everyday constructions of identity, and whether those lifestyle changes shifted notions of identity. Situated within a socially constructivism ideology, our exploratory research examines how the pandemic experience has shaped notions of identity to consider how this may have changed. We question how self-construction was impacted by the changing of everyday habits and rituals, as well as the role of grooming and commodity consumption on creating a persona and how this impacted in esteem and mental health. The findings illuminate on the lifeworld experience of the global pandemic and offer insight into how this reshapes perceptions of self.

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https://researchonline.gcu.ac.uk/en/publications/021c875d-d883-4560-9592-b8c1206e89ee