Women of Color and the Identity Dance

Many women of color just want to show up and be without having to explain, be the spokesperson for their race or be judged by the color of their skin, especially in the workplace. I danced this dance many times before launching my own speaking and training business, Emerge Consulting LLC. Over the past five years, I have held upper management positions in predominantly white organizations. I was faced daily with the dilemma of trying to fit into an exclusive system – ever mindful to put my gender and ethnicity on the back burner while engaging in the workplace. Doing this identity dance is unhealthy for women of color and consumes precious emotional and spiritual energy. There are things that you can do to minimize the stress of these challenges, remain authentic and begin to shatter glass ceilings, floors and walls. Determine your personal and professional values – the things you refuse to compromise, such as integrity, honesty and loyalty. No job or career is worth sacrificing your morals and values. Instead of leaving your racial and gender identity at the door, bring your whole self to the workplace. It is critical to your spiritual survival that you be as authentic as possible every day. Align yourself with colleagues who demonstrate cultural sensitivity. They may be more likely to accept you as you are and be allies when issues of race, gender or culture arise. Work to build positive and supportive relationships with managers. Communicate your needs and concerns directly, and don’t spend time educating others about your race. It’s their responsibility to become educated. Seek a mentor; another woman of color who has arrived at the “top” and who can serve as a listening ear and guide on how to navigate in a system of exclusion. Ultimately, you must choose your battles. While you may face frequent attacks on your character or have your credibility questioned, you have to decide what is worth giving your emotional energy to and what to ignore. Integrity is the result of being authentic or true to yourself, and if an organization is unwilling to accept you (gender and race) and your wonderful contributions, you have to determine whether you want to work for such a company. Further reading suggestions: Double Outsiders by Jessica Faye Carter Shifting: The Double Lives of Black Women in America by Charisse Jones and Kumea Shorter-Gooden

By Catrice Jackson