How do you assert your identity at work?

We’ve reached the 4th of the 5 themes discussed during our Impactful conversations! This theme generated so many reactions that we could have done a whole season on it!

« For me, code-switching is something I do all the time, and I’m so FA-TIGHT, I go home at night and I’m FA-TI-GUEATED. The number of times I wanted to say “wesh” I said “top” »

Maybe, like Nasma, you’ve felt compelled to laugh at jokes that you found lacking in quality, or, like Odile, you’ve wondered which haircut was « acceptable » for your job interview, or that like Sabrina you don’t mind being categorized as the « femme noire en colère ». You bet it is… so this is the theme for you!

As you watch the video, you’ll understand how each woman’s status affects her reactions to these issues. You’ll no doubt recognize yourself in one or more of their anecdotes.

How did you react?

« I don’t think it’s always up to us to have the “emotional labour” and always having to explain who you are and justify your identity. »

The findings are clear: 100% of the participants in the Impact Conversations events had encountered situations in their professional lives where their visible identity had been the subject of reflection, mockery or questions perceived as inappropriate.

An opportunity for constructive exchanges between different points of view:

• A duty to educate?
• Considering that the burden of educating is not ours to bear, but should be the responsibility of others?

We were pretty much 50/50, so it was up to each of us to do what we could according to our abilities and the situation. If, however, you don’t feel up to the mental load of having to educate, don’t force yourself and consult Amélie’s resources. Enter your contact details in the comments and we’ll send you her guide 🙂

« It’s management’s responsibility. If you advocate inclusive values, you need to bring in receipts. »

Listen to this episode of the podcast to find out what your rights are on these issues, and how to identify microaggressions. We also discuss how important it is for employers to understand these issues for the sake of their business.

This episode also provides an insight into the inner workings of the African diaspora, which mean that in most cases, women choose not to fully assert their African identity in the workplace.

Choose the way you want to express your opinion or testimonial, but do it, it’s important!🙌