Josselson’s identity theory surrounds issues of gender development and the intersection of multiple identities (Josselson & Harway, 2012). The theory examines how individuals balance changes in their personal and social locations while integrating and balancing various aspects of their personal and social selves (Josselson & Harway, 2012).
In other words, adult learners are navigating across five identity structures such as: (a) racial minority status and majority status, particularly as it relates to life in the United States; (b) cultures with different values of collectivism versus individualism (or other culturally related values), with examinations of both internal and external conflict; (c) gender identities, including the masculine, feminine, and transgender experiences; (d) roles, particularly as they are related to socially constructed ideas of gender; and (e) cultural expectations versus individual definitions and how those two are often pitted against each other throughout one’s identity development (Josselson & Harway, 2012).
This theory relates to adult education simply because as the adult learner progresses throughout their education, they develop a level of maturity. That level of maturity is shared within the learning environment. The adult learner must encompass a level of development already established through culture, race, or roles to progress through some experiences and gain the skills that will make them successful. When adult learners face challenges, they may retreat to those previous stages of their development. For adult learners to safely explore their identity and growth, they must have a healthy level of support from their learning environment.
Josselson, R., & Harway, M. (2012). Navigating multiple identities: Race, gender, culture, nationality, and roles. Oxford University Press.