Three urban identity games graded by stakes of being unmasked

Evidence

Passing and performing are both rather serious identity games. They encompass major portions of the individual’s life round and the stakes involved are frequently rather high. The consequences of losing these games, (that is, being “unmasked”) include such unpleasant experiences as imprisonment, job loss, physical and mental abuse, status reduction, and so forth. Fortunately for those urbanites with a bent for adventure but a distaste for catastrophe, there is another option. Pretending is a game that may be played only sporadically and then only for short periods of time. The most serious consequence of failure is mild embarrassment, and that is unlikely to be of long duration. — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 962

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces the tripartite framework of passing, performing, and pretending as distinct identity games ordered by risk.