People of Color Feel Uncomfortable in the Workplace:
“The corporation for me is a theater, and I try to remember to stay in character.”
That’s the blunt response from one African-American executive to a dilemma that dogs many people of color in American workplaces: Even as multicultural fluency is increasingly prized in today’s global business environment, the very people who represent that diversity feel shut out….More than 35% of African-Americans and Hispanics, as well as 45% of Asians, say they “need to compromise their authenticity” to conform to their company’s standards of demeanor or style. Forty percent of African-Americans — and a third of people of color overall — feel like outsiders in their corporate culture, compared with 26% of Caucasians.
“Companies have been good at creating a workforce that looks different,” says Andrés Tapia, author of The Inclusion Paradox. But, he adds, “they’ve fallen short when it comes to understanding how to develop a corporate culture where all employees feel included, respected, comfortable, and able to do their best work.”
Fewer than a third of Asian-Americans feel very comfortable being themselves at work, according to earlier research from the CTI (PDF). An Indian vice president at a multinational pharmaceutical firm recounts being told by her boss that her Anglo-Indian accent was “too stuffy.” She, like many others interviewed in our studies, avoids referring to Hindu holidays, discussing cultural mores with coworkers, or wearing anything that might be perceived as too ethnic. “You lead a dual life, you absolutely do,” said another Indian senior manager. “There is an inhibition. You just don’t want to talk about it. And I’d never dream of wearing a sari to work.”
I don’t talk about my work or my employer on this blog because I’m myself on this blog, while I’m wearing the mantle of a professional at work. I don’t show up at my job wearing my “I Pooped Today” T-Shirt, with my FAL slung, and my 1911 in my shoulder rig, and spend my time talking about how TSA employees should be tried and executed, while we should make Heroin legalized, and discussing my favorite pornography.
Of course none of that crap makes a difference in conducting my job, and would probably disrupt some of my coworkers from their jobs.
If I conducted myself like I did on the average Vicious Circle or Squirrel Report I’d probably be fired, and rightfully so!
Seems like so much hand-wringing to me.
H/t Mrs. Weer’d
Weer’d lives a double life–mild mannered scientist by day, Super…hero? Villain? by night.
No, I am a white Hispanic meat Popsicle!
Every day I don the mantle of business which is different from hobby or fun. Why?
Because it is business and I do enjoy being professional. If someone has a problem with that then its their problem.
With that said I also agree though the writer has poorly expressed that being women
(I am), black, gay, or other does have some difficulties. To that I’ve learned as an
adult you get over if and deal with it to be successful. Those that do are successful,
those that don’t you hear in the corner going wha wa wa. It seems harsh but after 40
years in an industry that woman are scarce it is possible to be successful if you be
professional and who you are. The trick is knowing what is not professional and keeping that out of ones business life.
Eck!
Another point is that on the Squirrel Report and this blog I don’t wear any mantles, I say what I want and have a good time at it. At business I conform to what is expected of me, even tho it isn’t what I’d do if left to my druthers.
What’s the difference? Well those first things I do for fun and don’t pay me jack, work pays me handsomely. They stop paying me, not only will I stop being professional, I’ll stop showing up altogether. I’m willing to do all sorts of stuff I’d rather not do if there is a nice check involved.
I had one job which was at a small family business. The family in question was…dynamic…to say the least. After one behind-the-scenes argument one of my employers took me aside and apologized for the display and thanked me for my professionalism. I pointed out to them that I was being paid to do a job and not to have an opinion of their discussions, and they could feel free to do whatever they wanted so long as I wasn’t being involved and still had my job to do. Sounds a little callous, and certainly not what I personally thought, but the job indeed did keep coming.
You hit the nail.
Professional is about work and that’s about being able to buy cool clothes, guns, radios and in general the fun stuff. Or as I like it
being professional is about eating regular. It also doedn’t mean I wear a boot uniform or act like I have a stick up my arse.
Sometimes you have to suck it up and take the noise as it’s
all transient.
Eck!
Is there also an argument that the issue is that X% of Ygroup *feel* put out that they are expected to conform to a normal business culture , and 100-X% realize that it’s a business environment and not a recreational outing ?
Occam’s Razor says you may be onto something, Wally!
A business has its own culture. The employees fit in or leave. Almost ten years ago, I had a job where we got called into a meeting every week about dress code. I had no problem with the standard, but my fellow employees wanted to change the rules. I forget how many hours of work time we wasted debating that. I figured that business casual wasn’t so hard, and I didn’t care that the clothes weren’t suited for dancing after hours. If people want to be sloppy at work, they should start their own companies and see how that goes.
Yep when I go on a job interview I always see how the people I meet are dressed. Nothing wrong with Buisness casual….except the fact that I’d have to buy an all-new wardrobe. Thankfully my line of work is dirty and bloody, so people tend not to care WHAT I wear under my lab coat or surgical gown.
To be fair, in the US the basis behind what is considered “professional” appearance, attitude, and behaviour has a very, very strong WASP foundation, and it’s one that has changed very little over at least the last 50 years. People coming in to this arena do have to “stay in character”, as the one person put it.
But the fact that the “business culture” has remained so stable for so long is a strong hint that there are probably good reasons behind much of it – not least of which is that it minimizes disruptions in the workplace, which cost money.
As a libertarian gun fanatic working in the pinko commie entertainment business in L.A., I find it hard to be myself at work too.
Though if Romney wins I am totally going to gloat.
I’m sure you’re aware that Massachusetts has a very healthy anti-gun anti-rights pinko population. I know exactly where you’re coming from.
Massachusetts also had Mitt Romney as its chief executive, and WHEN he wins (it is not looking very good for our current President from how I see it) I will not be gloating because I will be too busy bracing for impact….