8/15/2023 0 Comments Self burn gifHowever, black employees who feel pressure to code-switch may perceive that they are being devalued, which in turn may reduce their commitment to the company and desire to contribute their unique insights. Creating workplaces that are inclusive of black people will enable companies to retain a diverse workforce and bolster innovation. Our findings, while largely self-reported, add to the ongoing work of understanding how black professionals navigate mostly white American organizations. We also wanted to examine the pros and cons of this behavior for their professional and psychological well-being. ![]() The goal of this research was to examine how code-switching as an impression-management strategy informs black people’s work experiences. ![]() Feigning commonality with coworkers also reduces authentic self-expression and contributes to burnout.įor our latest working paper, we investigated how and when these positive and negative outcomes occurred in our sample, how those outcomes affected black employees, and how code-switching was evaluated by others. Downplaying one’s racial group can generate hostility from in-group members, increasing the likelihood that those who code-switch will be accused of “acting white.” Seeking to avoid stereotypes is hard work, and can deplete cognitive resources and hinder performance. Expressing shared interests with members of dominant groups promotes similarity with powerful organizational members, which raises the chance of promotions because individuals tend to affiliate with people they perceive as similar.Īt the same time, we know that code-switching comes with social and psychological repercussions.Avoiding negative stereotypes associated with black racial identity (e.g., incompetence, laziness) helps black employees be seen as leaders.For black people and other racial minorities, downplaying membership in a stigmatized racial group helps increase perceptions of professionalism and the likelihood of being hired.In our review of the existing literature, we identified three main reasons people code-switch in the workplace: Workplace research suggests that code-switching can generate both positive and negative outcomes for black employees. The Upsides and Downsides of Code-Switching Then they should address what everyone at the company needs to do to change this. ![]() If leaders are truly seeking to promote inclusion and address social inequality, they must begin by understanding why a segment of their workforce believes that they cannot truly be themselves in the office. While it is frequently seen as crucial for professional advancement, code-switching often comes at a great psychological cost. We also see examples of guidelines encouraging black people to code-switch to survive police interactions, such as “acting polite and respectful when stopped” and “avoiding running even if you are afraid.”īased on our research and the work of others, we argue that code-switching is one of the key dilemmas that black employees face around race at work. For example, research conducted in schools suggests that black students selectively code-switch between standard English in the classroom and African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) with their peers, which elevates their social standing with each intended audience. Research suggests that code-switching often occurs in spaces where negative stereotypes of black people run counter to what are considered “appropriate” behaviors and norms for a specific environment. This kind of behavioral adjustment is casually referred to as “code-switching,” which has long been a strategy for black people to successfully navigate interracial interactions and has large implications for their well-being, economic advancement, and even physical survival.īroadly, code-switching involves adjusting one’s style of speech, appearance, behavior, and expression in ways that will optimize the comfort of others in exchange for fair treatment, quality service, and employment opportunities. This moment inspired a sketch on Key & Peele in 2014 that played off the idea that Obama “switches” how he greets people, depending on whether they’re white or black. In the clip, viewers can see that there’s a clear difference between how Obama greets a white assistant coach and how he greets the black NBA player Kevin Durant. men’s Olympic basketball team went viral. ![]() In 2012, a video of President Barack Obama entering the locker room of the U.S. I am not even cognizant that I do it anymore. At this point in my career, code-switching feels natural.
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