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The traditional literature on stigma focuses on identifying factors contributing to the harmful impact of stigmas on the lives of stigmatized individuals. This focus, however, cannot explain the many cases of individuals possessing a stigmatized identity flourishing in our society. This article investigates the processes that successful stigmatized individuals use to overcome the harmful consequences of stigmatization. Specifically, this article reviews three processes: (1) compensation; (2) strategic interpretations of the social environment; and (3) focusing on multiple identities that have been identified in the literature to help stigmatized individuals handle prejudice and discrimination. Moreover, successful individuals adopt an "empowerment" model as opposed to a "coping" model when dealing with stigma. In other words, successful individuals view overcoming the adversities associated with stigma as an empowering process, as opposed to a depleting process. This discussion underscores the importance of adopting a new approach to gain a fuller understanding of the experience of being stigmatized.

The traditional literature on stigma focuses on identifying factors contributing to the harmful impact of stigmas on the lives of stigmatized individuals. This focus, however, cannot explain the many cases of individuals possessing a stigmatized identity flourishing in our society. This article investigates the processes that successful stigmatized individuals use to overcome the harmful consequences of stigmatization. Specifically, this article reviews three processes: (1) compensation; (2) strategic interpretations of the social environment; & (3) focusing on multiple identities that have been identified in the literature to help stigmatized individuals handle prejudice & discrimination. Moreover, successful individuals adopt an "empowerment" model as opposed to a "coping" model when dealing with stigma. In other words, successful individuals view overcoming the adversities associated with stigma as an empowering process, as opposed to a depleting process. This discussion underscores the importance of adopting a new approach to gain a fuller understanding of the experience of being stigmatized. 54 References. [Copyright 2004 Sage Publications, Inc.]

The authors propose a new Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) perspective on the relationship between organizational commitment and worker mobility. Theories have long presumed that worker mobility and worker commitment are inversely related. Increased mobility, in dominant models of organizational commitment, comes at the expense of commitment to organization and, therefore, at the expense of the positive outcomes of commitment. We examine the potential for fostering organizational commitment amid worker mobility. We use the metaphor "Knowledge Nomads" to highlight that mobile workers are capable of building homes in organizations in the form of meaningful commitments to organization. This replaces a vision of mobile workers as itinerant wanderers, moving frequently with no commitment to organization. To reconceptualize worker commitment, worker mobility, and their relationship in positive perspective, the authors present findings from a theoretical review and from new empirical data. Implications of our findings for theory and practice, and directions for future research, are discussed.