Am "I" Part of a "We"?: A Study of Inclusive Language and Organizational Identification within Student Organizations

Abstract

Throughout college, it is critical to be involved in organizations to define oneself, develop relationships, and build resumes. To influence students' involvement, organization leaders need to maximize a sense of community and minimize the factors that cause people to leave organizations. Studies show that the stronger the organizational identification of coworkers, the more likely they are to stay. Based on Social Identity Theory and linguistic studies, leadership language impacts members' feelings of organizational identification. This study aims to discover if the use of inclusive language within one career-focused and one faith-based organization is associated with members' organizational identification, whether or not the nature of an organization determines the relationship between inclusive language and organizational identification. In addition, the study will analyze the rhetoric used in the organization's meetings to determine the use of inclusive language. Results showed there was no association between the frequency of inclusive language use and members' organizational identification.