Nomadic Work as Life-Story Plot

Abstract

Interviews aimed at a reconstruction of working-life stories of ‘digital immigrants’ and ‘digital natives’ revealed, unsurprisingly, that such stories are emplotted with the aid of existing repertoires. What is more surprising, though, is the fact that ‘nomadic plots’ can be borrowed from opposite political repertoires, and that they cease serving as effective interpretative templates in the face of changing circumstances, such as the financial crisis. A focus group consisting of alleged self-described nomads indicated that the choice of this life plot is related to such matters as family circumstances and political situations during early childhood, as well as a present gender-mitigated family situation. Other studies focusing on the younger generation reveal that nomadic work as a life story plot does not lose its attraction. Narrative analysis suggests, however, that the notions of ‘digital immigrants’ and ‘nomadic work’ are more complex than their use in the media may suggest.