Who are you at work? Are you your true self, or do you engage in some sort of code-switching when you’re working? People of color are very familiar with code-switching, but if you’re White, the term may be new to you. Essentially, it’s how someone from an underrepresented population changes behaviors to better fit the dominant social norms.
When it’s something we do intentionally—say, switching between 2 languages we speak fluently—it can be energizing and fun, but when it becomes unconscious or adaptive, it can be exhausting.
So what can you do if you’re stuck on a work situation that doesn’t allow you be your most authentic self? What if you’re worn out by the need for constant code-switching?
There’s no single, easy answer, of course, but finding a diverse workplace can help. When you’re looking for a new job, look at the websites of the places you’re looking. Who seems to be represented, and who’s missing? Are their faces and bodies like yours on the upper echelons? What sort of language does the site use to talk about LGBTQ and religious rights? Does the organization sponsor events like Pride and Juneteenth celebrations? What’s your gut sense of the organization?
When you’ve done that initial research, it’s time to dig a little deeper. MediaBistro to look up job titles with “diversity” in the title on LinkedIn. You can also check HRC’s equity scorecard info regarding LGBTQ issues. Learn if the company has affinity groups based on things like race and gender identity. This is important even if you don’t identify as a person of color, since racial affinity groups are key to creating anti-racist workplaces. Then, reach out to people currently in the organization and ask for 20 or 30 minutes for an informational interview, with a focus on the culture of the workplace.
These tips won’t guarantee you a life free from code-switching and other adaptive habits that wear you down and make you feel inauthentic, of course, but they can help. Employers are increasingly paying attention to diversity issues in hiring and promotion, but change is slow, so find allies wherever you can.
