Hispanic professionals after 11th September: a move toward “American” identification

Organizational researchers commonly use racioethnic identity or acculturation measures as predictors for various phenomena, however, rarely do they attempt to investigate events or situations that might impact reports of identity. This study aims to determine the impact of the events of 11 September 2001 on reports of Hispanic identity in Hispanic business professionals as well as the varying degree of impact by physical distance from the event.

Sixty‐seven respondents were tracked longitudinally both pre‐ and post‐9/11 with reports of Hispanic identity. Additionally, cross‐sectional data from both time periods reporting Hispanic identity were analyzed.

Results show that Hispanic identity reports are significantly lower post‐9/11 in both the longitudinal and cross‐sectional sample. Further, distance from event impacted the magnitude of the difference. Data on perceptions of the impact of 9/11 on work‐life are also presented.

Sample size in the longitudinal portion of this particular study is relatively small. Additionally, future research could focus on other traumatic events (either at the personal level, i.e. death of a family member, layoffs, etc.; or community level, i.e. impact of natural disasters, etc.) on reports of racioethnic identification for other groups (i.e. Anglo, Asian‐American, Impatriates, Expatriates, foreign nationals, etc.).

Management literature shows us that racioethnic identification has a significant impact on one's perceptions, work, and otherwise. Individuals may perceive a more hostile or discriminatory work environment based on this identity. In this vein, it appears that traumatic events bond individuals together in a collective culture. After a traumatic event an organization may have an opportunity to redefine an organization and improve value congruence and strength of organizational culture.

This study is unique in that it contains both cross‐sectional and longitudinal data for racioethnic identity both pre‐ and post‐9/11 using identical measures. Not only does it add insight into the impact of these tragic events on the American populous, it fills a gap in Hispanic professional literature by attempting to describe the unique nature of these employees.