Current Events > Black employees are perceived more professional when mirroring White norms

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.psypost.org/2021/12/black-employees-are-perceived-as-more-professional-when-they-adjust-their-behavior-to-mirror-white-norms-62205

A new study suggests that Black employees who adjust their styles of speech, name selection, and hairstyles to mirror White norms are perceived as more professional in the workplace. The findings come from a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

A research study led by Courtney L. McCluney aimed to explore how a Black persons decision to either adjust their behaviors to mirror White norms or not influences the way they are perceived in professional contexts. This behavior adjustment, referred to as racial codeswitching, is commonly adopted by marginalized groups who feel pressure to conform to the norms of the dominant group to gain respect in professional spaces.

Yep, that's why we code switch.

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Makes sense. The ridiculous ideas we currently have of "professionalism" came around almost a century ago.

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This has been an open joke for decades. Every person has a white voic, regardless of color. Cause dealing wit with the backlash of not having a white voice just isn't manageable in a professional setting. It will be subtle stuff you don't receive that you would of if you just played the game and stuff like that. Rarely will the person tell you that's why they don't want to work with you.

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yea everyone code switches

also are these white norms or just modern professional norms? Is it different from how asian and latin people act in a professional setting?
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I'm mixed race white and with the name I have (horrible last name and extremely rare, non-white sounding first name), I have never been in a situation where I was perceived well because of my name.

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CableZL posted...

Yep, that's why we code switch.

This exactly. There is a reason people always talk about how we act completely different at work

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uh
most people are perceived as professional when they act professional
Does that mean that 'black' personalities (whatever the fuck that means) are less professional? No
It also means if you decide to roll up to your new 300k a year job in a pick up truck with several dead deer and blasting Kid Rock while you wear a fucking shirt that says 'the south shall rise again' also means you won't be seen as 'professional'

g980 posted...

yea everyone code switches

also are these white norms or just modern professional norms? Is it different from how asian and latin people act in a professional setting?

White norms became professional norms because white people dominate the work force.


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Someone tell me what 'white norms' are.
As a white person, I sure as shit don't know much about 'white culture'
which seems to not exist except there are now 'white norms'

Somebody is gonna have to define "white norms" because it seems like one of those vague terms meant to be the new villain of 2022

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nothanks1 posted...

It also means if you decide to roll up to your new 300k a year job in a pick up truck with several dead deer and blasting Kid Rock while you wear a fucking shirt that says 'the south shall rise again' also means you won't be seen as 'professional'

Is this commentary on how hard a white person would have to try to be ill perceived to be criticized as much as a non white person just talking in a way that makes white people uncomfortable? If so, good job.

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I thought baby speak was the norm at this point, I hear it all the time in adds...particularly since Covid.
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Lost_All_Senses posted...

Is this commentary on how hard a white person would have to try to be ill perceived to be criticized as much as a non white person just talking in a way that makes white people uncomfortable? If so, good job.

You said a lot of words
But if I'm ill I don't have to try?

Future_Trunks posted...

Sorry to bother you

This was the first thing I thought of too lol. David Cross and Patton were the best choices they could of went with >_<

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Lost_All_Senses posted...

Is this commentary on how hard a white person would have to try to be ill perceived to be criticized as much as a non white person just talking in a way that makes white people uncomfortable? If so, good job.

I think youre latching onto the hyperbole too much

White people can absolutely have speech patterns that wouldnt play well in the office.

Also i want quickly note im tunnel visioning on speech/code switching, not the indefensible shit like hair discrimination
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nothanks1 posted...

You said a lot of words
But if I'm ill I don't have to try?

I was being extra to match your energy.

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g980 posted...

I think youre latching onto the hyperbole too much

Glad I got in my post within seconds of being called out, so it didn't look like I was just saving face >_>

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Gobstoppers12 posted...

Somebody is gonna have to define "white norms" because it seems like one of those vague terms meant to be the new villain of 2022

White norms is the norms when you take English, Irish, Italian, German, Swedish, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Jewish, Pakistani, Iranian, Spanish, Pacific Islander cultures and then you paint blacks as marginalised because they have to behave the same to be successful.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfz0tDQZhqs

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Everyone has to code switch at work, to appease the almighty and callous suits, but minorities often have to do it more

Really, we should all unite against the elite rich, as we're all suffering similar problems caused by them.
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I only swear not as much around the students but everyone else gets it fully
parents are an obvious exception

What if I told you white people ALSO change how they speak at work to sound more professional

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White Norms

I dunno of this is out of pocket but it seems like hypocrisy that white companies want you to act a certain way in their presence, so they can understand you easiest and also have a bit of a power trip, yet then they outsource customer service for cheaper labor to places like India where their customers sometimes struggle to understand the person who's sole job is communication. >_>.

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It's a racist stereotype that people from Asia are good with computers so it only is fueled by racism
If it was a racist stereotype that people from Norway were computer people then they'd be hired from there instead

YourDrunkFather posted...

What if I told you white people ALSO change how they speak at work to sound more professional

It's not just speech, black employees often have to change their appearance while in a white office setting. That's why some states have passed the Crown Act because of discrimination against natural hair. I forgot what HBCU had this policy (I think it was Howard) where law school students had to have certain haircuts and women had to maintain permed or straightened hair.

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This is kind of a double-edged sword. You're either discriminating or using models that were created in discriminatory areas. Either way, the end result is pretty bad.

What defined professionalism in the US was set at a time when Black Americans were largely barred from pursuing professional careers. In that regard, it is a product of systemic racism.

I'm not disregarding the potential for direct racism. However, it could easily see someone being unaware that the standard is a White Eurocentric standard based off of models that were set during periods of segregation and oppression. What I mean to say is that they could be unaware that it is a "White norm" and think of it solely as a norm. I think this requires more of a case-by-case examination more than a blanket "White professionals are racist toward Black professions" assumption.

Don't get me wrong. It is racist to project one's own cultural standards as definitive. But, as with many areas of systemic racism, it's something that a person can do unconsciously and without malice. (Which is all the more reason why we need to be aware of it.)

Wow the above poster is so articulate

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CableZL posted...

Yep, that's why we code switch.

yeah i fucking hate it. i always code switch to not appear to be what they think i am and so i never show them who i really am so i always feel like im acting at work and never my true self.

one day i just wanna say hella and see what happens

JUST ONE DAY

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_BlueMonk posted...

yeah i fucking hate it. i always code switch to not appear to be what they think i am and so i never show them who i really am so i always feel like im acting at work and never my true self.

one day i just wanna say hella and see what happens

JUST ONE DAY

"Fuck this, I hella quit"

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FortuneCookie posted...

This is kind of a double-edged sword. You're either discriminating or using models that were created in discriminatory areas. Either way, the end result is pretty bad.

What defined professionalism in the US was set at a time when Black Americans were largely barred from pursuing professional careers. In that regard, it is a product of systemic racism.

I'm not disregarding the potential for direct racism. However, it could easily see someone being unaware that the standard is a White Eurocentric standard based off of models that were set during periods of segregation and oppression. What I mean to say is that they could be unaware that it is a "White norm" and think of it solely as a norm. I think this requires more of a case-by-case examination more than a blanket "White professionals are racist toward Black professions" assumption.

Don't get me wrong. It is racist to project one's own cultural standards as definitive. But, as with many areas of systemic racism, it's something that a person can do unconsciously and without malice. (Which is all the more reason why we need to be aware of it.)

It is not racist to project your cultural standards as definitive. Culture does not depend on race.

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As an inner city white dude, it's the same. In my office I'm wildly unprofessional by conventional means, but if I have a meeting I'm essentially playing an acting role. I'm allowed a lot of slack once people know my capabilities though. Also, idgaf about being viewed as professional.

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Wait until they act Asian

Then its total domination

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I know when I first entered the work force (restaurant) I was told Id have to cut my hair since an afro wasnt professional.

Nevermind the plethora of white dudes with long hair. Specifically mine was the problem. Especially since I feel if you ever find a stray hair that fell, its always a straight blonde one. So they couldnt even play the sanitation card imo.

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EmbraceOfDeath posted...

Makes sense. The ridiculous ideas we currently have of "professionalism" came around almost a century ago.

I'm sorry that no one wants to hear you say "this plan is a fucking joke," in your meeting with the other department managers. Get over it.

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does this have to do with "race" or just "professionalism" in general? everyone should be adjusting their manner of speaking / dialect to be appropriate for the setting. my normal dialect is to say things like "dude" and to swear a lot, but at work i behave different because i am expected to behave professionally. people are also expected to dress 'professionally' for work, it has nothing to do with race.

edit: i guess i'm confused as to where "white norms" comes from because it seems to be conflated with general "professionalism" which is race agnostic.

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Lost_All_Senses posted...

"Fuck this, I hella quit"

That "I hella quit" was cringe as fuck LMAO

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Giant_Aspirin posted...

does this have to do with "race" or just "professionalism" in general? everyone should be adjusting their manner of speaking / dialect to be appropriate for the setting. my normal dialect is to say things like "dude" and to swear a lot, but at work i behave different because i am expected to behave professionally. people are also expected to dress 'professionally' for work, it has nothing to do with race.

edit: i guess i'm confused as to where "white norms" comes from because it seems to be conflated with general "professionalism" which is race agnostic.

https://www.today.com/style/brittany-noble-was-told-
her-natural-hair-was-unprofessional-fired-t146857

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Giant_Aspirin posted...

edit: i guess i'm confused as to where "white norms" comes from because it seems to be conflated with general "professionalism" which is race agnostic.

The issue is these norms were created by white people, for white people (the type of white they want, at least) - and as such, many white people don't fall in line, but at least have some natural ways they are accepted under such standards that minorities don't.
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Punctuality is often an example of a white norm in the professional environment.

seems to me that is just because people need to do things on time to get shit done. But it can apparently be a biased approach.

Remember that one movie where thr black guy whobis experienced is training the new black guy. Experienced black guy puts on his white guy voice and the new black guy gives him a wtf look. Experienced black guy is like "you'll be more successful at this job if you use your white guy voice."

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Does this mean I can finally tell the boss that I'm not wearing that god damn collared shit anymore

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nothanks1 posted...

uh
most people are perceived as professional when they act professional
Does that mean that 'black' personalities (whatever the fuck that means) are less professional? No

Maybe this will help you understand.

https://youtu.be/T5X3cu1B87k

https://youtu.be/vbFTL14PehA

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CableZL posted...

https://www.today.com/style/brittany-noble-was-told-
her-natural-hair-was-unprofessional-fired-t146857

i've heard of similar stories and that's definitely unfair and most likely racist in intent / motivation.

i think what's confusing me the most is "styles of speech" and how race comes into play there. what "style of speech" is specific to race? i struggle here because i feel like equating "urban slang" with "black people" is inherently racist in itself since that is not predicated on the color of one's skin, but more to do with where they grew up.

i completely understand why it's considered "professional" to use proper spelling and grammar, which are completely independent of race.

Funkydog posted...

The issue is these norms were created by white people, for white people (the type of white they want, at least) - and as such, many white people don't fall in line, but at least have some natural ways they are accepted under such standards that minorities don't.

i get why calling traditional black hairstyles (afros, dreads, braids) "unprofessional" is unfair and thus racist, or at least rooted in racism. i can also understand the grips about names. but the gripes about language choice i'm not quite understanding because professional language is applicable to all of us. that's why i don't call executives "dude" or "homie" and why i don't swear like a pirate at work like i would with my peers in casual conversation.

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Jiek_Fafn posted...

As an inner city white dude, it's the same. In my office I'm wildly unprofessional by conventional means, but if I have a meeting I'm essentially playing an acting role. I'm allowed a lot of slack once people know my capabilities though. Also, idgaf about being viewed as professional.

Being an inner-city white person isn't the same as being a minority. Also, no one is saying minorities are mad because they can't talk any way they want or have to act professionally. They have to hide accents, downplay culture, and change things about themselves that white people wouldn't necessarily have to.

Black Women especially have issues with this and their hair. Whats considered normal for them isnt seen as "professional" for white people. Box Braids for example.


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Giant_Aspirin posted...

i've heard of similar stories and that's definitely unfair and most likely racist in intent / motivation.

i think what's confusing me the most is "styles of speech" and how race comes into play there. what "style of speech" is specific to race? i struggle here because i feel like equating "urban slang" with "black people" is inherently racist in itself since that is not predicated on the color of one's skin, but more to do with where they grew up.

i completely understand why it's considered "professional" to use proper spelling and grammar, which are completely independent of race.

When I went to college, I did a paper on AAVE for an English writing class. My professor literally said "I guarantee you only black people use black English" when we started the question and answer portion of my presentation. The class was audibly shocked. Another student caught the professor using AAVE himself shortly afterward and his face turned red.

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acting white and acting professional are two different things imo

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This is news? Pretty sure this has been a thing for decades.
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