tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306049737059818462024-03-12T15:03:51.327-07:00The Exquisite Lady- Abbie Muchecheti Empowering those without a voice.AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.comBlogger302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-71167597288720751912023-07-27T17:30:00.000-07:002023-07-27T17:30:44.248-07:00Sexism in the workplace and yes it exists
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A boss with an attitude problem can hamper
your career and poison your whole existence. Here are ten signs your boss might
be such. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bosses are just people,
and will all have their own stresses and shortcomings. But it’s not what the
boss does once in six months – it’s what they do every day that counts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A management style is
often a reflection of someone’s view of the world, of themselves, and of things
such as gender roles. When you have a boss whose attitude is at its core
sexist, your life can become a misery.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A happy and fulfilled
and well-balanced boss is unlikely to be a sexist tyrant at work. But a bitter
one with an axe to grind against women will carry this into the workplace,
sometimes so subtly that it is difficult to pinpoint.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These days there is a
far greater awareness of the consequences of sexual harassment in the workplace
than even a decade ago. That doesn’t mean it never happens, but a sexual
predator in the workplace is less likely to get away with it now than in the
past. Women are also more aware of their rights.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But there are the bosses
(both men and women) with personality disorders, who see the workplace as a
terrain to wield terror, and give free expression to their whims. And they
think the women (and sometimes also the men who work under them) deserve it.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On
paper, men and women doing the same job are supposed to be paid the same, but
in practice this does not always happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are some 10 things
sexist bosses are likely to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Make overt reference to gender in the
interview. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Comments such as “You
know I am not allowed to ask about your plans for the future”, which can
usually be interpreted as follows: “Are you going to have a baby anytime soon,
and go off on maternity leave?” The more unsubtle ones will comment directly on
your appearance, age and usually disguised in the form of a compliment. Believe
me; I experienced this once upon a time.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Assume women are looking for stop-gap
employment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sexist bosses will
assume the women are not the main breadwinners, and are unlikely to stay long
in the job, let alone make a career of it. The underlying assumption is that
there is some man who will be looking after them now and in the future. Really?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fail to really consider women for promotion. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the main one but
sadly both female and managers are culprits. They might be on the list, but they
seldom seem to get the job. It is easy to spot companies where this happens –
just look at their management structures, and how the genders are represented.
On paper, men and women doing the same job are supposed to be paid the same,
but in practice this does not always happen. Job titles can also disguise the
reality of someone’s level of responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Assume the women will do the catering and the
social organising. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unless it is part of
your job description, you do not have to organise catering at staff functions,
or clean up afterwards, or make things such as birthday parties or farewell
parties happen if you don’t want. A sexist boss won’t even ask – he will just
assume the women will do it. And he probably won’t thank them either.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Exclude women from certain workplace
conversations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like some men, some
women won’t be interested in discussing politics, sport or management
strategies, but automatically excluding all women from conversations on these
topics is very sexist. It is seldom done overtly, but often there is a subtle
vibe of “Keep away – men talking” sent out. Sometimes this exclusion extends to
other social activities organised after working hours, like going to the bar or
the golf course - or, even worse, the strip club. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A
sexist boss subtly creates the vibe that the real decision-making is men’s
work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Assume appearance is everything. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most men have cottoned
onto the fact that overt comments on appearance are a no-no, but even on going
compliments can sometimes be creepy. Underlying all of this is the assumption
that women’s appearance is somehow more important than men’s is. If you aren’t
sure whether you are overreacting, ask yourself whether the boss would have
made a similar comment to George in Sales about his new jacket.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fail to take input from women seriously in
meetings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A sexist boss would
pretend to listen, but would seldom take any of these suggestions seriously,
let alone implement them. Until one of the men makes the suggestion, that is. A
sexist boss subtly creates the vibe that the real decision-making is men’s
work. ‘’Well done George for saying that’’, Really, when Mary had made the
point initially!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Assume a lack of knowledge on technical
matters. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whether it is on issues
relating to IT, or mechanics, knowledge or ignorance cannot be assumed based on
gender. But a sexist boss will do just that without establishing people’s prior
knowledge on certain things. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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</span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Complain when women take family
responsibility leave. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This usually comes from
a boss who would not in a million years dream of taking a day off work to take
a sick child to the doctor, but expects his wife to miss a day from her job in
similar circumstances. Life happens – when working with people, sick children
and dying relatives will be part of the equation. One cannot blame women for
being in the position of carrying the brunt of the responsibility for these
family issues.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imply that a grievance is somehow hormone
related. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If a woman finally snaps
at work, a sexist boss will assume she is premenstrual or menopausal – her
grievance cannot surely be real. Granted, sometimes hormones can affect both
men and women, but even so, justifiable grievances can never be dismissed just
for that reason.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know what you are thinking right now, sometimes
both men and women bosses do undermine the well- being of their employees but
these things happen on daily basis in organisations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 114%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-89617019941686024462023-07-27T13:32:00.002-07:002023-07-27T13:32:52.113-07:00How can we talk about something we are not comfortable to talk about <p> Just doing a bit of whining, I know I shouldn't but I will anyway. I have been off a bit due to some illness. However when I can came back I realised that every person is doing or consulting on Equality and diversity. Good right? Yeah, but the problem I still see is we havent got any further than we could if really we were all working for the same cause. Every organisation wants to be seen to have a EDI strategy and are doing their best but the truth be told is it is mostly PR.</p><p>People are still uncomfortable to talk about racist incidents or racism in general. </p><p>We still need to talk about it and other identities too. However it seems we can all do better than how we are doing now since we are all on board.</p><p><br /></p><p>Just saying.</p>AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-2763521827036809332023-07-19T16:53:00.003-07:002023-07-19T16:53:46.451-07:00Spaces in the workplace<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Imagine
turning up to a meeting, and the first thing you hear is “who gave you
permission to be in this room?”</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Who
asked you to sit on the table?” “Who gave you the job?” How does one react to
these questions? The issue of space in the workplace is an interesting one because
as bodies, we occupy spaces wherever we are. The question of who is allowed in
and who gives permission to occupy these spaces is one that fascinates. In
workplaces, in particular people from different backgrounds occupy and
sometimes share spaces. Still, the fact that people might be working together
does not always mean integration or acceptance of each other. For black bodies it is difficult to fit in and for the most part because of what's said to us in these spaces. I experienced this first hand and its as if one </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> exist and this is painful and in no way can it lead a </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">successful</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> diversity programme.</span></span></p><p>I was treated like an outsider by the university I worked. What made it more painful is the fact that when I reported to the Head of equality, I was ignored</p><p><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
issue of space(s) is one that is not talked about, and like other forms of
oppression, one that people skirt around until they are affected. I was such a
person. Naively because I had always been in spaces where I felt at ease- my
home country. Space is in a constant of transition as a result of ‘continuous ,
dialectical struggles of power and resistance among and between the diversity
of landscape provides, users and mediators .</span></p><p>We need to think spaces and what happens in them as we work on our equality and diversity initiatives.</p>AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-15087633524131104162020-04-28T04:31:00.001-07:002020-04-29T01:42:22.061-07:00My Racism, Your Racism?: The new face of racism<br />
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I felt the need to whinge after seeing all these audios of
Africans in China being racially discriminated during the pandemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I will be saying below are my thoughts
based on these videos and speaking to a few people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From social media platforms and main news outlet, it led me
to believe there was a rise in racism across the developed world before Covid
-19 reached Europe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many were horrified
by the insults hurled on Chinese students in the UK. These racial harassment
incidents took place even in communities. Chinese restaurants were set on fire
with people losing their jobs because of their nationality in some countries.
That was and is terrible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the
Italians because that became the Covid -19 epicentre before anywhere else in
Europe. Gradually, people realised that it was a world pandemic with no
boundaries based on skin colour or borders. Once people start seeing this group
or that as being the reason for a virus where would the line be drawn? I said
to a friend of mine we will come out this pandemic either realising we are all
equal or worst-case scenario discriminating other groups further. He said what
do you think will happen and my answer was, of course, more inequality. By the
way, I do believe we will be fighting more discrimination after this pandemic.
I was not celebrating that Chinese student’s people were facing racial
harassment because I meet that every day and I know how it feels. I am not
watering down the experiences of these people, Italian or Chinese who initially
faced this COVID wave of racism. What I am saying racism is racism, whether on
a white black or brown person and should be treated as such. Once we start
separating it as white, black, brown racism, then we face the danger of
creating further divisions. Racism has no face. If we look at it from the
pandemic lets, call it for what it has been about rather than give it colour.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, fast forward
April 2020, while talking to another Diversity and inclusion practitioner, he
told me he had been asked to write about racism on the Chinese communities
during the pandemic. I quickly asked him, racial attacks in general or only on
the Chinese people? Interestingly, he didn’t know about the plight of Africans
in China.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Racism is racism, whether you
are African or Chinese, right?<br />
<br />
African Students were chucked out of their
accommodation, not allowed hospital treatment, and some ended up begging their
governments to take them home. These Africans were being targeted based on
their skin colour. I know because it was not on BBC news many never saw this
side of CovID-19. As far as I remember, it was reported as an allegation and was, of course, being denied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chinese government
has been supportive of African students through scholarships, and about 80
thousand or thereabouts across the continent are studying in China. It is human
nature (as observed from my decades of being on planet earth) that when we
don’t understand something or scared, we look for a scape got and sometimes
even our friends or neighbours can become such. However, thanks to African channels,
Al Jazeera and social media channels like WhatsApp, we were able to connect
with family and friends in some provinces in China were these (discriminatory
behaviours) were taking place. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Some people may think racism is about a chip on the shoulder
by those that are always talking racism, but for me, it is the abuse of power
by those privileged to have it. People who still find joy in never accepting accountability
and responsibility but doing everything it takes to pass on the blame on the
powerless ones.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just because the racial harassment of Africans did not
happen on the European continent, it does not mean it didn’t happen. In the
post-pandemic fight of racism, let us remember the Africans in China. Let us
not forget the effects of racism on individuals are similar. They do not respect the colour of a person.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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Right now, in America and the UK, there are more black and
brown people on the frontline who are dying. Yes, the reasons for that are not
known yet. However, I pray to God that it won’t be another layer of stigma on
people already grouped as a minority.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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As always these are my thoughts, observation and a bit of
reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-42088807623387370952020-01-15T12:45:00.002-08:002020-01-15T12:45:18.658-08:00Of leaders who are not leaders: My thoughts<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Have you ever received an email from a senior member in your workplace and realise that despite the attempt to mask it, the senior member was nasty to you? Also, you know that they think by sticking ‘have a good day’ at the bottom of the email, they think you are stupid and will not notice it. These types of leaders exist in our day-to-day lives. It could be at work or anywhere but know for sure that you are in trouble when you have such. They like to remind you that they are your leader and emphasize how important they are to the organization as if you are not. A very simple definition of an organisation says it is about people coming together for one purpose, business or whatever. Having said that, yes, there will be hierarchies for this organization to function well but it </span><u style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">does not</span></u><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> mean that those below a certain grade in the structure should be treated with disrespect.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">What is leadership anyway? I will go for a simple definition. I am not writing an academic paper here.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Leadership is a process of </span><u style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">social influence</span></u><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, which </span><u style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">maximizes the efforts</span></u><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> of others </span><u style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">towards the achievement</span></u><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> of a goal (Kevin Kruse). I find this definition simple and it encompasses what I want to say. It is not about saying to people ‘look I am intelligent, cleverer than you, the big man or woman of the company and there is you this little nothing member of the organisation’). Trust me some leaders exude these traits. In my 13 years of living in the UK, I have come face to face with leaders like these. It is as if they cannot help it. You rather want to say ‘we know you are, who are, do not rub it in my face’. However, why should it be like that? There is no need. How can one expect to influence the people they are belittling or mocking? It doesn’t work.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I remember a friend many years ago whose Senior Lead used to waltz in her subordinates’ office and moans about how she doesn’t understand why people get to the next day with no money. As far as she was concerned such people could only be stupid. My friend was like ‘wow’. There was a woman with money who didn’t know what it meant to be on a lower wage and struggling to make ends meet. She would do this every week on her way from lunch shopping. What sort of motivation would you get from that type of person?</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I think if you are a leader, it doesn’t qualify you to use that privilege to bully and belittle subordinates.</span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Great leaders</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> find the balance between business foresight, performance, and character. They have vision, courage, integrity, humility and focus along with the ability to plan strategically and catalyse cooperation amongst their team. They do not walk around puffing their chests to show that they run the show.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Please be Kind.</strong></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-51584606223347423592020-01-12T11:37:00.001-08:002020-01-12T11:37:47.670-08:00Which one of the protected characteristics is the most important: really? My reflections<br />
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I always like to write about issues most troubling me but I don’t
always get the chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me,
managing work and other responsibilities can most definitely take one’s time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of that, there is tiredness especially
a week after the Christmas break. I just felt coming back to my special place
where I can write about stuff that might be difficult to get the right audience
in real life. Disclaimer: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These are my
views, experiences and observations and if they do not fit neatly in yours,
then you can always read quietly, be polite in disagreeing with me or just do
not bother reading.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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So, here are the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>areas of equality and diversity issues that I
have been struggling with and meant to write about all along, black people who
think because they happen to have made it to the top positions in organizations
– all of a sudden, they are superior to the rest of the black people in the
world. I am talking about black people in particular because I happen to be
black and I am writing about this because I have come across these people and
also heard from the people, I speak to about how annoying these people are.
They are annoying mostly because they make others feel as if their lack of
progression is a sign they are not as hardworking as them, they fit and you who
doesn’t progress, you do not fit or are not trustworthy enough to get where
they are. Anyway, maybe you are reading this and you are one of those people
and you are thinking maybe I am jealousy – the answer is no, I am not.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let me explain. In most cases, these people, before their
promotion, they complain and moan about everything; the lack of opportunities
to progress in the organisation, they mourn about the inequalities, they moan
about everything and they still mourn until just before they get a promotion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of a sudden, they tell you, they do not
see, have never experienced all the things they once mourned about, and all
those complaining would just need to work hard and will just be fine. In fact,
they make you feel like you are one of those black people always playing the
race card. They make you feel like you are lazy. They do not even want to talk
to you. When they see you walking towards them, they change the direction of where
they are going. In meetings, they always have to disagree with you even when it’s
obvious you are making a good point. It is as if you make them uncomfortable. At
any events to do with equality, diversity and inclusion, they take the back
seat or they do not show up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I honestly do not understand. All I can think of is maybe
they want to please so much that they do not remember how life was before becoming
this new person. Anyway, food for thought! I rest my case.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am not saying equality and diversity is a responsibility of
one group of people, I am not saying it’s a black, white, brown and yellow
issue but my beef is with those who change the narrative depending on where
they are. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While I am at it let me talk about another issue: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>people who are so passionate about their
little box of inequality, they are the only ones suffering inequality because
they are female, LGBT+, etc but they don’t believe there are problems as
regards other protected characteristics like race for example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They argue that because they have black or
BME friends they think there is no racism in the UK. What I can only say is,
its not a matter of comparing apples and mangoes when it comes to equality
issues, and we can’t put on a scale all the types of inequalities and try and
measure the most serious one. That would not work. Inequality in any form or
shape is bad and let us not try to score points by suggesting that being black is
better than being disabled or being gay is worse than ….. Discrimination sucks whichever
type. There is no way we can know what it means to be a black person, a gay
man, a disabled person etc unless we are that, so what gives us the right to
compare them all and decide that being this is better than being that?<o:p></o:p></div>
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All I am saying is let’s treat people with dignity and
respect not by their bodily or socially constructed characteristics!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-8409110338545280812019-12-25T08:30:00.000-08:002019-12-25T08:30:11.431-08:00Of gender and raceHello, I am back. Its been a while since I have blogged.<br />
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I am going to talk about race and gender. I won't go about it in an academic way but just in general. In fact, I will use my experiences, so before you get ready to attack me, let me remind you these are my experiences.<br />
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I talk a lot to people about equality issues, but sometimes what I hear makes me wonder whether some people realise what being different means. I have come across strong women who can do anything to find gender inequality. They jump on anything that has a whiff of sexism or come close to it, but when it comes to race, they seem to lose interest.<br />
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So, I was having a drink with a group of friends talking about some of the things we have experience as women. Similarly, our experiences had ranged from being whistled at by a group of men to sexism at work. Our stories which I will not discuss here were harrowing. What I haven't said yet is I was with my white friends. So, I felt it was equally important to let these lovely ladies of the additional burden I face as a black woman. However, it was clear they were not interested in putting themselves in my shoes. They initially listened but the more harrowing my experience of carrying that extra burden, the more they seemed not to understand. It was more like 'Oh I am sure people do not go out of their way to be racist' and 'Oh they didn't mean it like that!'<br />
<br />
Honestly, if a touch on your bum is sexual harassment, why on earth would you think being called an angry black woman , lazy and got an attitude as a black woman because I have voiced my opinion is OK? Isn't it a form of being made to police my self thereby losing my voice? And, honestly, it resonates with a lot of things for me as a black woman - colonialism etc.<br />
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Remember I am not trying to water down people's experiences but we have to remember other than both mangoes and apples being fruits - the comparison doesn't go far. We shouldn't be allowing ourselves to think one inequality is better because if we are for social just our focus should be how to end it not comparing who is hurting most.<br />
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We need to think intersectionality!<br />
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<br />AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-72671852422026999972019-11-12T11:58:00.002-08:002019-11-12T11:58:45.284-08:00Why is Race a difficult topic for some people?<br />
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Well, I have just been debating whether I should write about
this or not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing about race or even
talking about can leave one with more enemies than friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bit of an exaggeration but I guess you know
what I mean! As you can see, I thought I ought to. It is important that we talk
about it. Avoiding talking about something does not make it go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People are so sensitive now that even when
you are not talking about race if they suspect you are, they become so defensive
or angry and if you are unlucky, will not be receiving a Christmas card from
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is it about the subject that
makes people’s antennae go up?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Recently in a conversation with my white friend, he happens
to refer me as African. I was saying how cold I felt and he said ‘You Africans
are always the same when it comes to the weather, either it is too hot or too
cold for you. I have a problem with this guy at work, always putting the
radiator high’. This was not said in an affectionate way let me add before some
of you jump on to say I should understand the humour of the country! I tried to
ignore the heating issue because I am one of those people who would rather
hibernate in winter if it were possible, just to avoid the cold. However, the
generalization though. My response to him was that I preferred Zimbabwean than
this generalisation. I also pointed out that ‘we are not all the same’. No
country or even household has similar people even in the UK, never mind the African
continent. Unfortunately, in his mind, I was accusing him of something. He went
on this defensive mode, which was in itself interesting but sad at the same
time. At first, I thought he was joking because of how serious he became. I
thought to myself what are you saying indirectly. I decided to explain myself
in what I thought would bring his anger down. Remember I was not and am not
talking about black versus white here. I explained that just as everybody else
I am entitled to how I wanted to be identified as.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, I hear most people loudly saying
they are ‘Irish, Welsh, and Scottish etc. Even some British people prefer to
identify as English. So why would Zimbabwean be so wrong? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, not many British people go around
calling them European on a day-to-day basis. Some even go further by referring to
themselves as Cornish, Yorkshire etc. Why then was it an issue simply to want my
identity to be of my choice?<o:p></o:p></div>
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What then did it for me was what came out next?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Do you realise there might be less racism in
the world than you think?’ OMG! I could not believe what I was hearing. I
thought at what point the dreaded big ‘R’was mentioned. This was getting
ridiculous. A conversation about identity preference being highjacked by the
fear of being seen as racist- what has the world gone to? What can we say - let
me say I, without being accused of using the race card? It is hard when one is
made to feel he/she is out to get people. Sometimes it makes it so
uncomfortable that even when you hear real racist comments you are not keen to
say anything about it - perpetuating it in the process. Race or racism I find
is one of those things people would do their best to deny even when it is
glaringly obvious. I have heard so many times the statement ‘I didn’t mean it
like that’. Well, how else did you mean it, mister, when you describe me as a
‘coloured’ or as an ‘international ethnic’?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back on identity, I really wanted my friend to know that it
is not about playing the victim game here but understanding that I am also
entitled to my identity without the race being an issue. Of course, I am
British too but I am constantly reminded of my identity when I am asked, ‘Where
are you really from, or is this really your hair – meaning I am associated with
a certain country and a certain look. So then, why when I want to identify with
a specific country am I accused of saying people are racist? Double
Standards!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is pretty much a matter of
who is offended- but part of me thinks if you think like that, are not you
hiding something as well. In my language, we have a saying ‘Kuvhunduka chati
kwata hunge uine katurike’. In English when I translate it somewhat mean if you
are edgy about something, it could be a sign that you are hiding your true
colours! Zimbabweans are you out there- is that right? I realised that my
language -Shona is not on google translate- I wonder if the African language is, for the sake of whoever speaks it because I don’t!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I know what you are thinking. There is nothing wrong with
being called an African- but asserting I am accusing people of racism just
because I say I identify as Zimbabwean first before anything else is pathetic.
We do not far by controlling others. We need to respect each other’s views and
wishes without being offended or offending. The rant I witnessed from my friend
on this issue left me really wondering- who knows what is best for me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is it that makes people so defensive
when there is a hint even indirectly of this type of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">-ism</b>? Racism has long changed its manifestation in society; hardly
do we hear the N-word shouted in the street. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, to assert that we live in a post-racial Britain is misleading- living in Cloud cuckoo land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know, including those who moan about
political correctness gone wrong in Britain that we still have a long way to go
when it comes to race and other -<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">isms</b>.
Why do people get mad at you when you refuse to be boxed? Have you ever noticed
that? You cannot be what they are not- you cannot be different without being
called a name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you speak for
yourself- ‘she is aggressive’ or she is a feminist blah blah…<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is as if you do not fit neatly in some people’s
packaging; from how you look to how you think, etc – you are different and
therefore have to have a name. Where will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">difference</i>
go or live, what will<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> difference</i> say
without being labelled?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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These are my experiences so no point calling me anti-this or the other because that won't change anything</div>
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<br />AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-48942648721888343532018-12-12T10:35:00.000-08:002018-12-12T10:35:23.420-08:00Decolonising the Mind: When we tear each other apart<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Droid Sans", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 2em; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px;">Even history books can confirm how long black people have been in competition with one another. Divided by skin complexion as house and field Negroes, we were forced to create segregation within our own race. Trickling down from generation to generation, black people seem to still embody this desire to compete and tear one another down. Recently on my travels abroad, I was shocked by my black brothers and sisters' attitude towards me. It sort of reminded me of the book I read when I was at the University of Zimbabwe some twenty years ago called 'Decolonising the Mind' by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o. I never thought twenty years on I would be making reference to the book. Indeed, some of our black need their mind decolonized. I was traveling with a white friend of mine who wanted to see my country. From the UK we were treated equally as far as I could tell but the moment we got to Johannesburg things changed. While we both had British passports, I was always treated with suspicion- to the point of being told by a black sister at the O.R Tambo International airport that my passport photo was too black and was asked to step aside for further investigation. Hello, this was a passport photo accepted by the British Home Office. Meanwhile, my friend the mulungu/muzungu was being treated like royalty.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px;">As if that was not enough, upon arriving at the Victoria Falls International Airport, another shock. The immigration black brother wanted me to say I was working for the lady I was with. It would not simply make sense to this immigration officer that I could also go on holiday. It took me another 10 minutes to explain that I had a career back in the UK and just happened to be bringing a friend who enjoyed travelling and wanted to see Victoria Falls. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px;">At this point, I thought maybe I was over thinking. My ten-day stay was interesting. Whenever we visited a restaurant, I always got served last and it would take between 10 to 15 minutes in some places before my food was brought to our table. At one point I asked the manager if my dollars were so different from my friend who seemed to always get first class service wherever we went. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px;">When paying for whatever we had purchased, my dollars were scrutinized as if I might have fake ones. I saw taxi drivers bowing down to my friend, something we do not even do in my culture. It was all rather bizarre to watch.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.04px;"> On my return from having been seeing the falls from the Zambian side, the immigration officer who was taking seconds to check people's passports and visa, took about fifteen minutes with my passport doing absolutely nothing with it: I suppose to make me sweat, honestly but why? </span>I never thought black people after years of freedom still see themselves as inferior. To make it worse, some are even willing to drag down other black people with them. During this trip, I saw a people who are still unsure of who they are and I suppose tied up with the colonial mentality of feeling inferior to others. My passport photo was too black. I wonder what colour it should have been considering I am black? I couldn't possibly be on holiday unless as a carer for a white lady? I couldn't possibly afford to pay for my meals hence slow service for me </div>
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Indeed we need to 'emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds'... Bob Marley</div>
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AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-74708783880920919632018-11-21T11:56:00.000-08:002018-11-21T11:57:45.100-08:00Office microaggressions and being the only black woman in the office<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Today I’m wearing a colourful headscarf over my dreadlocks and big hoop earrings in my ears. That may not sound to you like a professional set-up, but it’s how I dress sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve never had a boss who (as far as I know) deliberately set out to make me uncomfortable as a black person in the workplace, but I’ve had plenty who didn’t approve of my dressing and the way I speak.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And I get it: Employers want the workplace to be a setting in which people can—well—work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I know I’m supposed to be representing my workplace in a professional way but not at the expense of who I am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The problem is that many employers end up perpetuating racism just by following the norms that most people consider harmless, or even helpful, for creating a professional work environment. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">One can unintentionally make one feel unwelcome just by upholding what’s widely considered to be “normal” workplace culture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For instance, common standards of professional dress create dress codes that aren’t easy for many people of colour – and </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">pretty much anyone</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> who isn’t a wealthy, able-bodied white man – to follow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The requirement to adhere to such a dress code would make one not just uncomfortable but also set one up for failure. There’s an expectation to look like someone other than myself in order to do a job I’m perfectly capable of succeeding at while I look like myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Maybe that doesn’t seem like a big deal. There are </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">larger issues</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> when it comes to race and work – like blatant discrimination in hiring, racist harassment, or institutional racism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But even so-called “trivial” things like dress code requirements and everyday micro-aggression add up to create big problems for access, safety, and equity for people of colour in the workplace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And it’s not just clothes that create obstacles for people of colour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When you think about it, all of our common ideas about professionalism in the UK are based on an idea of upper-middle-class whiteness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So let’s think about it and then do something about it – because following the status quo on professionalism is a sure way to cause unintentional harm.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Here are some of the ways common workplace culture has created struggles for me in the workplace, and how we can work to change them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">1. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">People Look Down on Me Because I Don’t Straighten My Hair</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Like other aspects of the dress code, you may not think that hair is the most pressing issue when it comes to race and the workplace. But for me, it’s huge. I once went to have biometrics done with a funky afro hair. On seeing me the lady at the counter shocked me by talking to me as if I was deaf and unable to comprehend what she was saying. I was given the classic, ‘Can- you- stand –over –there- and wait?’’ This was spoken slowly as if to a two-year-old. Why, because I looked very African possible since I was doing my biometric having arrived and therefore unable to speak English. I bet you if my hair was straightened, a bit of make-up she might have spoken to me in a normal voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Like </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">many other Black women</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, my hair plays a significant role in expressing my pride and my identity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In order to fit many people’s standards of professionalism, I have to take time, put in money, and endure pain to permanently alter the texture of my hair through chemical straightening. Black people with natural hair can be judged as everything from gang-affiliated to “distracting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But, shockingly, there is no correlation between straightening my hair and doing better work. When I put it that way, it’s obvious, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’m a hard worker, and saying that I have to change my hair to do my job is misguided at best – and actually, it feels pretty downright insulting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So by choosing to wear my natural hair, I’m taking a risk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">No matter how much self-love I build up, I still have to face external barriers that say that my natural beauty is not appealing <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2. People Think My Natural Voice Sounds Unprofessional<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There’s no one way of talking like a white person or a Black person, but usually in the UK, the idea of “speaking professionally” brings to mind a specific form of English.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">That form does not include the way I naturally speak, and it sure doesn’t include Africans, African Caribbeans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The fact that I feel the need to change the way I speak is strange because, throughout my life, I’ve heard “compliments” about my so-called “proper” way of speaking – comments like “You’re so articulate!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve learned that </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">this is not a compliment</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">. It’s basically another way of saying “Wow, you don’t fit the stereotypes that come to my mind when I picture a Black person!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This is a problem, and not only because people expect me to be something I’m not. It’s also a problem because of the negative misconceptions people associate with African/ African Caribbean accents. In a professional setting, Black users of thick African accent are judged as unintelligent, uneducated, gang-affiliated, and more. Fun enough, not Europeans. Theirs are seen as sweet and cool accents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">These racist and classist ideas about how we should speak in a professional setting actually affect most Black people, regardless of how we naturally speak, because we’re all judged based on the same stereotypes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I went to a Christmas party once and a workmate having been drinking all evening had the guts to ask me to ‘speak like an English person’. That was not funny and to make it worse people laughed. It was as if he was saying I didn't belong there<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">All of us should be evaluated on how well we do our jobs, not on how well our voices can hide the fact that we’re Black.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">3. People Doubt My Capabilities Because of My Name <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Studies show</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> that potential employers associate “black-sounding names with violence and incompetence, making them much less likely to call back Muchecheti after<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> an interview than Wesly or Smith. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Job-hunting can be discouraging enough as it is – and it’s </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">even more demoralizing</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> when you realize potential employers might be throwing away your CV upon reading your name, without even considering your qualifications.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My name reveals my Blackness, and I really shouldn’t have to think of it that way – like it exposes something negative about me. Turning down my application because the hirer knows I’m Black is racist discrimination, period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But oftentimes it’s more subtle than potential employers thinking, “She’s Black, so I won’t hire her.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Even </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">people who don’t think they’re racist</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> can hold subconscious biases like believing Black people aren’t hard-working. And even beyond hiring, these biases can come through in ways like laughing at our names or insisting on calling us by nicknames you find more appealing or easier to pronounce. I once worked in an office where I constantly heard other teammates either laugh at people’s names or complain that more visa people were applying (even when some of these people were British people).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even if they were visa people, aren’t we living in the world of global competition where the best get the job?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Some Black people end up changing their names or going by initials to improve their chances of success in the job market. How bad is that? It’s just one of the many ways Black folks feel pressure to change or hide who we are to avoid being misjudged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">4. People Judge Me as Excessively Angry If I Get Mad or Set Boundaries<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Emotion is a natural part of life – everyone gets mad sometimes, including at work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There’s an understandable expectation to keep emotions in check, to a certain degree, in a professional setting. I wouldn’t be a very good employee if I lost my cool with every condescending customer or irritating co-worker.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But you wouldn’t be a very supportive employer if you held my emotions to a stricter standard because I’m Black. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unfortunately, this tends to happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As the study on “black-sounding” names revealed, many people associate Blackness with being violent and dangerous. Further </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">research on implicit biases</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> shows that people who don’t even realize they hold racist views can feel this way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I used to think my ability to be patient in all kinds of situations would help me avoid being misjudged as excessively angry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But now I know that it doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not I’m actually angry – I can be </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">stereotyped as an Angry Black Woman</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> just for sharing my opinion, asserting my boundaries, or speaking in anything other than a sugar-sweet tone of voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">That makes things really inconvenient, to say the least, in a work setting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For white men, confidence and assertiveness are treated as positive qualities and leadership skills. But when I was a supervising manager at a retail store, I had to balance taking leadership – like telling a habitually late employee to be on time – with gentleness, so as not to be judged as aggressive when I was just trying to do my job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I need to be able to be assertive at work not only to get my job done but also to take care of myself while I do it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Since emotion is part of a natural human experience, it’s unhealthy for me to suppress all emotion at work. And since setting boundaries is absolutely necessary for self-care, it’s oppressive to expect me to put up with being mistreated because people judge my assertiveness as excessive anger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">5. I Have to Stay Quiet about the Pain of Racism<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As a woman of colour, racism is part of my everyday life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We’re often expected to carry the burden of racism silently because when we talk about it, we’re seen as rocking the boat. And that even includes when racism shows up at work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Many Black people are familiar with this cycle: We witness or experience racism, point it out or stand up for ourselves, and then a white person cries, or feels guilty, or says they’re being attacked. Often you hear ‘Oh she has a chip on the shoulder or she likes playing the race card’. Suddenly, we’re seen as the aggressors creating a hostile environment, rather than being supported through the hurtful process of experiencing racism and gathering the courage to call for it to stop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Racism is a part of my life, and especially if it’s part of my workplace, I need to be able to express my frustration with it without being seen as “attacking” white people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">6. I’m tokenized as the ‘Only One in the Room’<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Many of the examples I’ve discussed so far have come up for me in white-dominated workspaces. Having more Black leaders and co-workers of colour isn’t a guarantee of better working conditions, because we can be guilty of these behaviours, too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But there’s something special – and by “special,” I mean “oppressive” – about being the only Black person at work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Even employers making an effort to diversify make mistakes when it comes to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tokenism#Tokenism_in_the_workplace" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">tokenizing</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, hiring one person of a certain race and expecting them to represent everyone from their community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s a lot of pressure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It comes with knowing that your every move, every misstep, every blunder will be used to judge everyone like you. When I’m in this situation, I feel like any small failure will confirm someone’s racist ideas about Black people being incompetent or lazy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I know this fear doesn’t just come from my imagination, because of how often employers come right out and ask Black employees to speak for all Black people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For an idea of how well that works out for me, refer back to what happens when I’m judged as excessively angry. As the only Black person, I feel the pressure to make sure others see me as a “good” Black person – as in, one who won’t call out racism or get angry or “make” white people feel bad about themselves by naming oppression.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In the end, even if I’m being tokenized as the only Black person, I’m still expected to conform to whiteness in a way that’s simply impossible for me. But it can feel like the financial support I need to survive is at risk if I don’t suppress my pain and try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">These are some of the struggles of not just being Black in professional settings, but especially of being unapologetically Black. I’m essentially more likely to be accepted at work if I’m ashamed of who I am. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I can laugh at racist jokes instead of admitting that </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">they hurt me</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, to try to avoid being labelled as an Angry Black woman. I can straighten my hair to avoid the negative stereotypes about what it means to be a Black person with natural hair. I can change my name so my ethnicity isn’t clear on business cards or on a CV.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But I don’t have to do any of these things in order to get my work done, and I shouldn’t have to do them to convince anyone else that I’m an effective worker. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I should be able to be myself – and to be proud of who I am – while I’m at work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The expectation of conformity with upper-middle-class whiteness means fewer job opportunities. It can also mean having to work at a job that requires me to put time, money, and effort into changing myself to fit in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So the pressure to conform put me at a disadvantage and adds the stress of knowing that if I slip back into my natural self, my financial stability could be at risk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But being unapologetically Black doesn’t mean I’m incapable of doing my job. It means I feel free to be me, and that’s a feeling everyone deserves to experience at work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-8983477456848878752018-11-21T11:09:00.001-08:002018-11-21T11:09:58.414-08:00Microaggressions in the workplace we’re all sick of having to deal with. <div class="MsoNormal">
<br />Navigating the daily grind of office life is no easy feat. Between having to deal with work politics, constant (but not always necessary) meetings and petty colleagues, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve been dropped into a boxing ring armed with nothing but your wits. And while we’re not discounting the fact that men also experience their fair share of grievances in the office, it’s much harder if you’re a woman. I recently read an article in Bustle in which<b> hepeating</b>, a new term that describes the act in which an ignored idea pitched by a woman is praised and accepted when it’s repeated by a man, emerged. The term hit home with a lot of women. From mansplaining and being constantly interrupted, to comments about what we’re wearing and dealing with underhanded jibes about our qualifications, hepeating is just another notch on the list of workplace sexism and microaggressions women have to deal with on a constant basis. And the biggest problem here is that no matter how overt or subtle it is, many of us feel that we can’t address the issue because society has always dictated that we act demurely as women whose demeanors should be rooted in being quiet and complacent – particularly in workplace environments.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In many cases, job security is on the line – particularly in toxic work environments that actively refuse to be inclusive in terms of equal opportunities and assigned roles. Not only that when some women do speak up, they ’re also often gaslighted and made to question whether their experiences are actually real or valid, which makes this in itself an additional microaggression to deal with on top of everything else. From invasive questions about when you’re planning to be a mother and how it will affect your job performance to being tone policed when expressing an opinion and then being asked if “it’s that time of the month”, these remarks and questions are designed to make us question our worth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unfortunately, it can be even worse when you’re a person of colour. For example, when someone is “surprised” that you’re so eloquent and articulate. Or assuming that someone is the tea lady or cleaner when they are a Professor (Note, there is absolutely nothing wrong with these jobs, but there is something wrong when there are gender and racial bias attached to them). The problem with these little jibes is that they aren’t going to go away any time soon, but the more we address the issue the more we become aware of the fact and as such can call people out on their behaviour.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are a few examples,<o:p></o:p></div>
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For example: In response to people being surprised that you as a black person can speak “so well”, you should ask why they’re surprised.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Turn the tables on them by asking them what makes you so different that they’re surprised about your eloquence and take it a step further by questioning them about whether or not they speak any other languages fluently.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another example,<o:p></o:p></div>
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The never-satisfied manager who uses dismissive and condescending tactics towards you… Schedule an information-gathering meeting.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Beware of such managers, they like to manage in the grey and continuously move the goal line so that they never have to truly value your work. You must manage up and hold them to task by asking them to be specific.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here’s what you might say,<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I’d like to understand from you what success looks like on your team. Can you give me specific examples of what I need to do to be successful and receive recognition?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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In this question, you are asking what it takes for you to be seen and no longer invisible in his or her eyes. If he or she beats around the bush, ask them to describe someone on the team they see as successful and ask them to explain exactly why that’s the case.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You might not think that things like this matter if it’s never happened to you but it does. It’s the difference between being happy at work and constantly feeling like you’re a placeholder whose well-being at work doesn’t matter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are some workplace experiences from my friends:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The worst example for me is when you try to resolve a problem etc. and you are told it is all in your head or you are imagining the problem (AKA gaslighting). You actually get blamed for saying your feelings or have some mental health explanation thrown at you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Staring. For the most part, I dress in very bright colours. Because of this, I am often scanned from top to bottom a comment ‘I wouldn’t wear that? Shockingly enough, in this case, I also experience discrimination from some of the women here who do this. I can't tell you how annoying it makes me feel. Why should it be an issue and what has it got to do with work?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Human interaction: Some people treat you like they treat everyone else, but others will turn their backs on you and or refuse to greet you when you greet them. Some if they do respond at all, they mumble and just when you think they are having a bad day, they laugh and chat with another team member!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Social interaction: Social functions at work are supposed to be events for people at work to mix and mingle. Nothing is more awkward when people purposefully push you aside or ignore you. Some will choose not to comment on whatever you are saying but when another colleague opens their mouth, they get excited.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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What a piece of work man is. (William Shakespeare)<o:p></o:p></div>
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AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-5791200641966988142018-06-24T05:26:00.001-07:002018-06-24T05:26:56.838-07:00Is There a Bitch in Your Workplace?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Occasionally you may unexpectedly come across a bitch at
work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Most
professional women are too busy working long and hard to even contemplate the
question. We don’t expect to come across any and we certainly don’t look for
them, so how could we tell?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Initially, we can’t believe that someone is being bitchy and
tend to assume that we have misread the situation. Why would other women want
to humiliate us in a meeting, sabotage our career, or play silly games to
destabilize us? We give her the benefit of doubt and may blame ourselves for
the misunderstanding and work even harder at communicating. When that doesn’t
work, we tend to blame ourselves as we struggle to cope with the interpersonal
difficulty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">We don’t wish to betray the sisterhood, or draw attention to our
vulnerability, lack of coolness or internal resources. If we try to tell
friends and family, they may try to problem solve by offering simplistic
retorts we could never utter, or snort with derision at our silly paranoia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">We tend to remain silent – it is embarrassing and shameful to
acknowledge that we’re allowing someone to upset us, or that we are helpless at
trying to resolve it. Perhaps we are concerned about retaining our job and
swallow our distress. Secretly, we wonder whether we are weak and pathetic;
other women seem to take it in their stride or fail to notice. We must be
overly sensitive. Maybe we lack political or strategic prowess – yet another
failing. We witness our career prospects wither as our naivety or niceness
renders us powerless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">A number of women say the following,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1. Incredulity: They cannot believe that another woman could be
nasty to them. They surmise that there must be a miscommunication,
misunderstanding, or lack of skill – it must be their fault or perhaps there is
something wrong with them. They may be re-triggered with primary school memories of
popular in-group girls who excluded them or taunts hurled across the
playground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">2. Numbness: They work even harder, and trudge on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">3. Exhaustion: They may dread going to work and worry about
their reputation and career being eroded. They find it increasingly difficult
to ‘switch off’ and worry after hours. They lose their work satisfaction, and
struggle to manage their workload.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">4. Cynicism: They feel hurt and betrayed. They drag
themselves through their work day and ruminate each night. Their creativity and
joy is compromised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Here are a few basic strategies for coping with a nasty manager
at work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">If your manager is a destructive bitch,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Never be alone with her for important exchanges. She will lie in
the form of ‘not remembering’ what you remember about what was decided.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Transparency is your weapon because secrecy is hers. If you find
yourself shafted by her in a meeting, say sweetly in front of colleagues, “I am
really confused that you said that, because I thought we had agreed that this
and this was happening. Can you help me understand what has happened
here? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Counter her attempts to undermine by dividing and conquering and
working individuals very hard, by talking to colleagues and finding support.
Don’t allow yourself to be isolated by self-doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Be protective of your privacy. Make sure not to leave your work
screen open because she will look over your shoulder and her eyes will ‘vacuum’
your desk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Stay calm. Many staffers who must answer to destructive managers
tolerate ill treatment for months and then explode over something minor. She
will turn this into evidence of your emotional instability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; bottom: 7px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Protect yourself with records. Write confirming emails after
verbal exchanges and cc others; always print out and keep hard copies of
communications.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">These things do happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-40287524557134975262018-06-11T14:03:00.001-07:002018-06-14T10:34:28.113-07:00How toxic leaders/managers destroy people as well as organisations<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">How toxic
leaders/managers destroy people as well as organisations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There is a
growing incidence of toxic leadership in organisations across the world. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Yesterday I wrote about a toxic organisation
where my friend nearly had a breakdown. Had he not left maybe he would be ill
from what he went through. In most cases it is people who give organisation bad reputation. And its all about <strong><u>power. </u></strong>It is therefore clear that </span>this cancer of
toxicity threatens the well-being of both individuals and organisations. It
also affects the performance of a society and country. That’s why there is a
pressing need for leaders to understand the nature, dynamics and evolution of
toxic leadership and organisations.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The word
“toxic” comes from the Greek “toxikon” which means “arrow poison”. In a literal
sense, the term in its original form thus means to kill (poison) in a targeted
way (arrow). Toxic organisations and leaders/managers therefore are those who
deliberately destroy the fabric of the institution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">What makes
a toxic leader?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Toxic
leadership represents the “dark” side of leadership. It affects individuals as
well as organisations. In the case of individuals toxic leadership refers to
ongoing, deliberate, intentional actions - the “arrow” - by a leader to undermine
the sense of dignity, self-worth and efficacy of an individual - the “poison”.
This results in exploitative, destructive, devaluing and demeaning work
experiences. These destructive actions may be physical, psychosocial or even
spiritual when they diminish a person’s meaning and purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">A toxic
organisation is one that erodes, disables and destroys the physiological,
psychosocial and spiritual well- being of the people who work in it in
permanent and deliberate ways. In other words, an organisation becomes
metaphorically a “poison pill” for employees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">In contrast
to toxic leadership, healthy, authentic leadership nurtures and affirms the
dignity, worth and efficacy of an individual. It creates enabling, empowering
and meaningful work experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">And a healthy,
authentic organisation is one that nurtures and grows the physiological,
psychosocial and spiritual well-being of its organisational members.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Can toxic
leaders be competent?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Leadership
toxicity and incompetence are not directly related. Both competent – getting
the desired results - and incompetent leadership can be toxic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If a narrower
definition of competence is used - only focusing on technical and professional
competencies - a toxic leader may still be seen as competent because they are
“delivering the goods”. This is particularly true if a short-term view is
taken. But over the longer term their short-term success is unsustainable. This
is because they are destroying their teams, departments or organisations in the
process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If a
comprehensive, long term view is taken toxic leaders are incompetent because
they are not competent across all domains of a well-rounded leader. Taking a
comprehensive view, leadership qualities include personal attributes, technical
and professional competencies, values and attitudes, and conduct.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I believe
that toxic leaders, regardless of their level of technical and professional
competence, are incompetent. After all, competent leadership is all about
getting things done with people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Typical
toxic leaders<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Five typical
toxic leaders exist:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Cold Fish: the ends justify
the means. So,any decision and action is justifiable in terms of the
results desired.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Snake: the world serves me in
the endeavour to satisfy my personal needs like greed, status and power.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Glory Seeker: personal glory and
public visibility at any cost, regardless of whether I have made any real
and meaningful contribution.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Puppet Master: absolute,
centralised control over everything and anyone, under all circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Monarch: ruling the organisation
as if it is my kingdom. All of its assets are available for my personal
use.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The more
prolific these toxic leaders are in an organisation, the more toxic the
organisation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Below are some of the characteristics of these bad leaders:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><strong>The Snakes:</strong> lacks integrity, manipulative, egocentric and self serving,divisive</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><strong>Glory Seeker:</strong> demeans and devalues people, manipulative, egocentric and self serving, divisive, unpredictable and inconsistency</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><strong>Cold Fish:</strong> punishes and coerces, abusive, aloof and excessive control</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Puppet Master:</strong> punishes, manipulative, exploitative ,aloof and excessive control</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p><strong>Monarch: </strong>punishes, manipulative, exploitative, excessive control</o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Typical
toxic organisations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The typical
manifestations of a toxic organisation resulting from toxic leadership are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Negative emotional moods and mood
swings: anger, despair, despondency, frustration, pessimism and
aggression.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Unproductive and meaningless
work.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Destructive and counterproductive
conduct.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Employee physical and emotional
disengagement and withdrawal such as absenteeism, lack of contribution,
and turnover.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Unethical, deviant conduct:
theft, fraud and sabotage.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Poor well-being and health.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Low (team) morale and work
satisfaction.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Organisational dis-identification
and low organisational commitment.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">General life dissatisfaction.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">But
organisations can be toxic in their own right through the organisational
culture they have. Organisational culture refers to shared ways of seeing,
interpreting and acting upon the world that becomes ingrained in an
organisation’s DNA. It’s the glue holding it together and provides an
organisation with a way of looking at and relating to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">When toxic
patterns become ingrained into the DNA of an organisation the following
patterns emerge:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Paranoid: the defensive, afraid,
suspicious, trusting no-one or nobody organisation.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Compulsive: the over-planned and
over-programmed organisation.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Hyperactive: the impulsive,
unfocused organisation, acting like an adolescent.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Deflated: the energyless,
depressed and impotent organisation.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Delusional: the reality
estranged, make-believe organisation, living in a world of its own.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Conscienceless: the unethical,
amoral organisation.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There appears
to be a growing incidence of the cancer of toxic leadership and organisations.
This is in no uncertain terms endangering the well-being of organisational
members, compromising future sustainable organisational, community and societal
performance and success, as well as the very continued existence of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">As someone
interested in Leadership and Management, as a person who talks to people, I
have heard so much about toxic workplace to know it is an important area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Based on
Research by Theo Veldsman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-74929868046780693882018-06-09T10:33:00.001-07:002018-11-20T12:01:21.079-08:00Microagressions in the workplace -Toby’s story<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I had just got seated in a café when I heard my name being
called. I didn’t look up as I just thought there could be another Abbie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Abbie, its me Toby!’. The name sounded familiar so I looked
up and lo and behold, my friend Toby had made his way in the café where I had
been enjoying a hot cholate drink.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Long time, what are you doing here?’ I asked pecking him on
both cheeks. ‘I thought you went back to Africa?’, I added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘I did but went to
Belgium after that. I was working for a big non governmental organisation’, Toby added. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Wow! How did you find it and what are you doing here then?
‘, I asked curiously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had met Toby
while working part time while I was studying. We just got on and used to
talk a lot about the challenges we faced on coming to the UK. Toby was from
Ghana and we had so much in common. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Long story Abbie but let me get a drink first’, he said
going to the counter to pay for his drink.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He came back quickly and I said, ‘I am all ears. What’s the
story?’ I asked sipping my hot drink. I thought it was just about his settling here. I was not prepared for what he told me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Before I bore you with my story, you look well Abbie’, he
said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Thank you ‘, I responded. ‘And so, do you’, I added. I
hadn’t seen Toby for more than five years now and we had not even kept in
touch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Toby had gone back to his country and got married. His wife
got a scholarship to go and study in Belgium and they decided to go
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Life has treated you well
Toby’, I said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Oh yes, I can’t complain and my wife is doing well so she
has been posted here, that’s why we are here’, he added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Great! How about you? I asked, pleased for my friend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they came back to England from Belgium,
Toby didn’t have a job so he started looking for work again. Luckily, he got
temporary work and he didn’t mind as he hoped to get a long-term job in the
long run. His nightmare story started when he accepted this job in a big organization.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>Toby’s experiences of micro aggressions and his talk of
depression.</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Toby was a quite guy, only talked when you talk to him,
unless he knew you. Professionally a great employee who paid attention to detail and eager to learn. I was one person who made Toby talk and we used to talk and
laugh before he left the UK, but generally a bit on the quite side, if not shy.
What he told me was rather shocking and worrying. When Toby was posted to
the job he accepted hoping to learn as much as he could and had hoped this
first position would lead to bigger things. He was to work in a team of five
ladies. At first, they all seemed happy to have a man in the team. Then he
noticed that it was all a façade. The last thing they wanted amongst them was a black man, and soon this would become clear to Toby.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Toby explained that microaggressions ranged from excluding
him in conversations, treating him like an idiot.Toby was an
intelligent guy with two degrees in Stats and Maths. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a new person, he needed guidance- sort of
an induction in the new job but the ladies decided they would do no such thing.
Some even complained he was disturbing them when he asked work related
questions- even complained to senior management, others, just blocked him in
conversation-like he wasn’t there. Whatever he did was never right. For a person who had worked for a big organisation in Belgium, he couldn't not understand what he was doing wrong. One of the ladies lived in the same area
with Toby and whenever she saw him on the bus to work would get out and get the
next one. The other asked everyone in the office if they wanted a cup of tea and left him out. While these might seem small issues, try being on the receiving everyday and se how it feels. It got to the point of him being scared of speaking to any of the girls for fear of being reported to the managers for disturbing 'the hard working ,ever busy ladies'.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He didn’t know who to ask anything, if he did, one would say
don’t disturb so and so, she is so busy. The same ladies would from time to in
go on their phones during office hours or chat to one another endlessly excluding
Toby. He told me if he went for his lunch, he would come back to an office full
of laughter but the moment he took to his seat, the silence will be deadening.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He said he realised he was not welcome and came to the
conclusion that these people might have not worked with people from other
cultures. He said, ‘Abbie, I felt as if there was something wrong with being
black, having an accent and just being different’. I started to get anxious
every Sunday night when I knew on Monday I would be in the office with these
ladies’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I could not believe what I was hearing. All I could think of
how neo liberalism really has made us believe that we are living in the post
racial years. It took me back to my own experiences in places, where I could
also feel that I was not welcome. Unfortunately, there are new forms of subtle,
unconscious or colour-blind racism and we live in a society that seem tired of
hearing about race. And it is people like Toby and myself and many others who
can only know what it feels to experience racism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a friend of mine once said, racism that is
direct and clear cut is better to accept than the one that comes camouflaged,
because what does one do? No one will believe you and people would only say
‘chip on shoulder’ and one wouldn’t be able to prove it as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our drinks got cold and I offered to get us new ones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I got up and left Toby looking forlorn. ‘How can I help my
friend?’ I thought to myself. Sadly, it was not the first time hearing such
stories. What worries me is this happens in big organisations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I came back and sat down with my friend. I thought the best
therapy was to let him talk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">After spending two weeks he decided to keep silent and only
talk when he was spoken to. ‘I decided to give them their space, Abbie’, he
said. ‘And when you get back you are so drained, angry and you can’t have
quality time with your family’, Toby added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I was getting upset. My friend was really in trouble I could
tell by his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘People can get depressed, or even kill themselves just by
the way they are treated in organisations. Its better if organisation could
just stop pretending they are for diversity and stop torturing ethnic
minorities than bring them in an organisation only to kill them’, he added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Toby, are you still working in this organisation?’, I asked
worryingly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘No, I left. I will be looking and taking care of my son now
while I think of what to do next. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
could not carry on working in that toxic environment. Maybe I will do some
studying’, Toby said. 'I am lucky I could leave ,but imagine those who cant afford that luxury. But these things stay with you', he added</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My brain was now working overtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not a trained counsellor but what I was
hearing didn’t sound right.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘You should talk to your GP as well Toby. Studying might
also help you put this experience behind you’, I said. I reminded Toby that not
all organisations are like that and should look for help.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘I am glad I met you Abbie. It feels so nice to be talking
about this to someone who can identify with what I have experienced. Those
women do not like people like me. I could not carry on, the environment was too
toxic and even the management didn’t seem to understand me so I had no one to
go to’, he added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘I am sorry Toby that you had to go through this’, I said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘And you worry whether, they would believe you against five
people’, Toby added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I was sad. There was silence, each of us thinking. We didn’t
even finish our drinks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Let’s have our
drinks before they get cold again. Don’t worry about me, Abbie. My son and wife
will keep me sane and besides I have friends like you’, he broke the silence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘Of course’, I said, not sure he would be OK. He showed me
his wife and son’s pictures. We laughed and talked about old times when we were
both new in the UK and feeling homesick. It was nice to see my friend smile and
laugh but I was deeply affected by his experiences. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We bid each other farewell and promised to
keep in touch. I went home thinking. How can workplaces with few ethnic
minorities protect them from microaggressions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t think this will ever be possible as more and more organisations
would like to claim they have race and equality on the agenda, but the truth is
people are feeling isolated in some organisations. I am not only talking about
Toby but I have spoken to friends who have been in similar situations as
Toby’s. Some left their jobs but others still soldier on because they have no other way of making a living. And the problem is how do you know whether were you go will be better? </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>So, what does the future hold?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What Toby has experienced is nothing new and there are many
Tobies out there who are taking this treatment silently. I shudder to think how
many cases of mental health and suicides a result of this kind of treatment. We
seem to have moved a lot from the days of direct racism but as I said the
racist of the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> century is worse because its difficult to prove.
I have spoken to people who like Toby have gone home fuming with anger from
they way they would have been treated by colleagues and management with nothing
to could do. Terms like ‘too sensitive’, ‘you are not cut out for this place’,
‘you have chip on shoulder’, ‘you like playing the race card’ have been used to
anyone who dared say anything. A friend of mine once said we need to have some
research on the long-term effects of isolation of minorities in the workplace. From
my friend Toby’ s experiences and many others I am sure if such research were
to be carried out, we will be shocked. The problem I see now is every
organization wants to be seen as embracing diversity. While it is a great thing
to do, there is no point if it’s only done to tick boxes because the issue of
equality, equity and diversity affects real people. Organisations should think
through their policies and make sure they are not making ethnic minorities ‘s
lives in the workplace even worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Disclaimer: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Toby - not his real name but the story is
true and happened to my friend I shall not mention here. He is alright and for
now is on a career break doing a PhD in Mathematics. We talk and laugh, he has been able to speak to his GP
and is enjoying being a stay home dad and doing a part time degree. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-66070493962926148452018-03-04T04:02:00.001-08:002018-03-04T04:02:39.772-08:00How important it is to have representation in learning Institutions!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Representation -simple as it is, is one of the most
challenging thing for organisations yet so easy and simple to put in place.
Recently a friend of mine who finished her PhD, swore not to even think of
working for the institution she did her course. When I asked her why, she told
me – representation. Being the only black woman in that department, she never
saw anything that represented her in a positive light. She said to start with,
there was no one she could call a mentor, people around her didn’t seem to
understand her and as if that was not enough, everywhere she looked had
negative images of Africa. She felt lost, insulted and belittled. All over the
notice boards were images of thin black children with mucus on their faces and eyes
covered in green mucus like stuff. The image that everyone has of Africa! She
said how can I respect myself let alone be respected in a place like that. What
are those pictures doing anyway in a science department of a good well known
university, as if students will donate their so cherished grants and loan to
poor Africa! Something is grossly wrong with continuing to enforce the rhetoric
of the dirty, helpless, needy black child and the sweet saving white woman or
man who rescues him or her. And unfortunately most philanthropic efforts play
on this one rather heavily whether deliberately or incidentally as they may
like to argue. All this further feeds into the denigrated view of black people
everywhere – that we’re too uneducated, poor, or otherwise helpless as a whole,
to attain success without the assistance of the descendants of our colonial
slave masters, or that we are all somehow innately bad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said she had intended to stay around and work and
help develop some science that might save people but she thought not in that
toxic representation. Sure enough I am now aware of what she meant than before.
Every country has poor people. Every country has people sleeping rough, but the
way things are portrayed on poster , on TV and some other platforms, you would
think only Africa has the worst. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying people
should not be helped, but there has to be place and space. Putting such images
in learning institutions only helps to denigrate people from that part of the
world. Like my friend said, would stop and donate their grants and loans? How
much money then has been collected for charity work from students in these universities?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Recently I was having a conversation with a bright Sixth
former whom I will disguise from this article but all I can say is he is at a
state school. They had a representation from one of the high and mighty
universities in the country coming to talk to them about their prospects of
applying to go to this university. The person started talking about the dress up
and rig ma role that they have to do when going for dinner etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously for kids used to a simple dinner at
school, this all sounded intimidating. Now the sixth former and a group of
friends are thinking of alternatives. One would think, if the idea was to have
kids from state schools applying to this elite university, one would have been
more careful in how they explain things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So again, mission unaccomplished ! As far as the representative of this
university is concerned job done but really?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As progressive, modern and inclusive as we’d like to
think today’s world is, we still have a far way to go. Representation remains a
valuable tool in the hands of influencers where they may either choose to
provide validation and to be honest in telling people’s stories or they may
choose to do the opposite, even if it isn’t said in as many words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Disclaimer: These are my thoughts based on conversing
with people and observation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-19634808139428822552018-01-06T06:46:00.001-08:002018-01-06T06:46:10.774-08:00Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented: reflections on race and life in the workplace<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always enjoyed writing about anything
but the more I talk to other BME women from different organisations ,the more I
realise that race and racialisation in workplaces will<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>carry on forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike my parents who were born and grew up
in the racist white minority government in Southern Rhodesia, I was born and
grew up where all were equal and I didn’t have to think of race the way I do
today in Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Let
me start by defining racialisation according to Galabuzi (2006):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Racialisation translates into
actions and decisions within social systems that lead to differential and
unequal outcomes, and entrenchment of structures of oppression. The influence
of negative race based judgements in decision- making at different levels of
society produces racial inequality.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Why
write about black women experiences? As a black feminist- yes that’s right, I
speak and write in the hope of raising questions to new and enduring problems
in the workplace- re gender and race. In most workplaces the mere mention of
race or racism can incite particular responses which can be disturbing. I write
in the hope of transformation. For many women of colour in the workplace,
problems begin with numerical representation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You look around you and there as hardly anyone
you can relate to re race. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You tell
someone and either they think you are ‘just sensitive or you have chip on
shoulder’. This has always been the case wherever I work. I also discovered
that there were different rules for ‘different people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>White folks will be treated like royalty if
they are having problems and when it’s you, you are told to grow up or as one
person said to me once, ‘you are not cut out for this place.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Since
moving to Europe in 2006, I have experienced prejudice one way or the other. I
have tried to blend in but I am always reminded of my race and ethnicity. This
has been mostly in the work place (private, public and not for profit organisations).
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds familiar anybody?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Derald
Wing Sue (2011) notes that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the research
on race shows that ‘whites experience themselves as good , moral and decent
beings who would never intentionally hurt or discriminate against others’(418).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I
am however baffled by some people I have worked with who seemed ‘affable’ and
‘intelligent’ and who preach ideals of equality but seem to have little if any
consciousness of the ways in which their attitudes and behaviours are
interpreted as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>racist by their non-white
nor how the system of white supremacy works. In some places<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found myself working in an environment in
which certain white workmates did not seem to care what they said in my
presence, or perhaps I should say, that they seemed unaware<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the messages of undesirability and
inferiority<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that they were communicating
regarding<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>non-white people. Even in
Human Resources where you expect some sort of level headedness, a workmate who
was recruiting once looked at her list of potential applicants and said the people
had all ‘weird names’ and wouldn’t be suitable as they would need visas (I am
putting it mildly here). So how did she come to that conclusion one might
wonder. I for example am British but with the so called ‘weird name!’ And
what’s in a name anyway? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toni Morrison
one of my favourite authors cautioned ‘Oppressive language does more than
represent violence; it is violence; does more than represent the limits of
knowledge ; it limits knowledge’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">In
the social world of white normativity, as George Yancy (2012) writes, ‘it is
white meaning making that creates the condition under which black people are
always already marked different/deviant/ dangerous. Sanchez –Hucles (1997)
reminds us, black women in the workforce have often been regarded as tokens,
deviants, invisible, isolates and of low status…..’’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">To
start talking about weird / foreign names in my presence in a belittling way
when I am the only one in the office with such a name is clearly not only
isolating but trying to make me invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That reminds me of something that happened, there
was an organisation I so wanted to work for in my area. I applied for <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>all the HR jobs that I qualified for but never
even got an invitation to an interview and I wonder if they used the ‘ weird
name criteria’ for shortlisting. I know what you are thinking – that I might
not have had the skills. I can assure you that any person who has been to
University with 3 degrees can do administrative work. And I wasn’t
overqualified because the work was in my line of work – Human Resources!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Another
thing I have seen is, if you are lucky to get the job then you become the dumping
ground for anything to do with diversity as one friend of mine found out in her
workplace. Celebrating diversity only meant she had to organise events and even
attend them while her white counterparts were busy with work apparently! Preaching
to the converted! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">As
Henry (2000) points out:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">‘Black
women professionals know too well how their race, gender and class backgrounds
have structured them historically in the workplace to ‘clean up everyone’s mess
(hooks and West 1991, 154). Black women once hired are often expected to do the
‘hands on work’ and the less intellectual work and the diversity work (Bangar
and McDemott 1989). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another interesting thing that happened to me
in one of the organisations I worked is a good example of this ‘two-facedness ’
on diversity and race issues. On my arrival, I noticed there were a few black
faces scattered in the open plan office which was encouraging. I was hopeful
since I had also seen on the advert the following words: ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic
minority candidates, who are under-represented.’ </i>I thought they were the
real deal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the place to be. This
was so much in contrast with every place I had worked.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Then
wham change happened- team restructuring! All the four black faces including me
were made redundant and there went the ‘we are for diversity and welcome people
from ethnic minority’ theory. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who
stayed on were white, not senior or had any special qualities; we only happened
to be black and had to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The
four of us were shocked but happy to leave because of the toxicity of the
environment. It was as if plans had been made to get rid of us all long and
after the restructuring, the organisation still advertised for Human Resources
personnel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">What
angers me is the rhetoric of some organisations and senior management where the
subject of race is concerned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Ballard and Parveen (2008) wrote,
rhetorical commitment to anti-racist practice, no matter how loudly
articulated, cannot be taken as evidence of the absence of problems seething
below the surface. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sue argues, ‘An
unwillingness to name the contours of racism means unwillingness to challenge
notions of meritocracy and a level playing field’, clearly the case of most
places I have worked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">In
one of the organisations I worked for, when I mentioned racism to my workmates
or even the lack of black people in the decision making positions, I was met
with silences, denials of structures of racism and even encountered tears. One
lady hugged me and cried ‘Oh don’t worry you are one of us. We want you here.’
Really? Why would I be one of you?</span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">In
another organisation they used to organise talks/events and when I asked why
there was no diversity among the speakers, I was told ‘there aren’t any black
people doing this work’. Really?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This
denial of racism is convenient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Food
for thought!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="centretext" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-48101956981839711422017-12-11T11:25:00.001-08:002017-12-11T11:25:55.004-08:00Of Glass Cliffs and women<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This story has made look around and have a good think about
life. A friend of mine from when I was at University visited me this weekend. I
have not been well and she is relocating to Ghana, so we had a lot of catching
up to do. It was lovely to see her, as it had been a while. It was not what she
said that shocked me but what she experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What started as girl talk ended up giving me the chance to look at her
experiences from my perspective support by research done by others and wonders
what goes on in organisations. My friend who will be unnamed, like me did her
Masters at Oxford Brookes University. I finished in 2007 and my friend in 2008.
However her story is one faced by many BME women in the workplace. The
unfortunate thing is, sometimes it’s difficult to prove and anywhere further
other than leave the organisation. Most forms of discrimination now are so
subtle that recipients don’t always know what to do and some people do take
advantage of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was 1984 when the ‘glass ceiling’ was first coined as a
metaphor to describe gender inequality in upper management (Ryan, 2009). The
phrase captures a phenomenon whereby women aspiring a top management position
find themselves blocked from these positions by seemingly invisible(hence the
glass), yet very real barriers(hence the ceiling) that serve to keep the upper
echelons of leadership a predominantly white male domain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
thing that people might forget is the role of race in all this. Let’s face it,
BME and white women will never have the same privilege in the workplace, yes
you heard me- no good pretending we all start at the same point. Some
definitely start far ahead because of their ethnicity, class and even where
they studied. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So on finishing our
Master’s degree my friend and I were not only facing a glass ceiling but a
concrete ceiling instead. You might be wondering where I am going with this but
just wait. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Concrete ceiling" not only restricts access to
top-level positions but middle management positions. It is denser and not as
easily shattered and research shows that while glass ceiling is about women in general,
concrete ceilings seem to affect women of colour more as they have to deal with
race discrimination on top of gender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This story is about glass cliffs and BME women. My friend’s
story got even more shocking because of her experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Numerous studies have demonstrated that individuals who are
seen as atypical in a given context attract more attention and are more easily singled
out for criticism. My friend definitely faced a higher scrutiny and criticism
in her organisation than her white colleagues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On finishing her degree my friend found a job with an
accounting firm. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was ecstatic. While
some of us were still looking for work in our areas of expertise, she was
done and we were all happy for her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, she happened to be the
only black woman there and all seemed OK to start with until a pattern
developed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the laws and everything,
there didn’t seem to be a problem and why would she even think about that
except people kept on saying,’ we never had a black person before’’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things got worse. Whenever there were any complicated
projects or tough tasks/clients, they were given to her. To make it worse some
of the stuff was not of a junior member like her but for a more experienced
person. She would struggle with the projects on her own without support and
many times with mixed results. New people joined the organisation and would be
given what seemed to her the type of work in line with her qualifications,
knowledge and skills. These people would go on to do well and move on to more
senior positions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s face it, seniority
means more money and power, we all can do with a bit of that from time to time. And who wouldn’t
be troubled to see others being promoted while they are stuck. Like many BME women
who may have experienced the 'glass cliff' and didn’t think anything of it, she didn’t
realise that she was being set up for failure by management. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, being given precarious projects and often
found herself being called in for a chat on her performance by the very top
members of the organisation. Whenever anything less challenging came about, it
went on to other members of the team who then went on to being promoted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So all they were doing was making my friend feel like a
failure and also finding an excuse for not promoting her. This went on
for the eight years she was with this organisation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When my friend finally decided to ask her manager why she was
always given tough projects and not getting help and support, she was told she
needed to work harder and produce results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One senior member of the management said to her, ‘for a
black woman you are doing well. Some people like you are still out there
looking for work and here you are complaining.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That was it for my dear friend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She resigned and is now going back to Ghana.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was so angry I needed to write this short story but this
happens to many people and to me as well before I knew that research has been done
on ‘glass cliffs’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember ‘glass
cliffs’ also happens with women in general who can be put in a similar
situation in a male dominated environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-81292428947274864562017-12-07T08:41:00.000-08:002017-12-07T08:41:59.636-08:00Get Over it , that's life!
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Imagine being on the ground, surrounded by people who are constantly
kicking you. Every time you try to stand, <b>POW</b>! Another kick sends you
back to the ground. Now, after constantly being kicked for a good while,
imagine that a whole new group surrounds you, and starts slapping you. You see
some people who look like you, but they are slapping you too, because they
don’t want to be on the ground with you, so they join in hurting you as well.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You haven’t fully recovered from being kicked, so you moan in pain, and
try to tell them to “Stop!” One “Slapper” says to you, “Oh my goodness, I
barely touched you. I’m not kicking you like those before me. Stop complaining
and being a victim”, then continues slapping you. This, ladies and gentlemen,
is how I would describe the way black people, specifically black, are treated.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Black people need to get over it, other races were slaves too you
know!”….this sentence, along with “I am not my ancestors, don’t blame me!”
reminds me that society dismisses anything black people say, or do, as either:
1) complaining, and/or 2) somehow offensive to them. This in turn allows them
to downplay the importance of what’s being said or ignore it entirely. As if we
are crying out for nothing. When it comes to “black issues”, it seems society
confuses being a “victim” with speaking/standing up for yourself, culture,
workplace people, etc.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The “victim” concept makes me shudder with disgust; it’s just another
way to discourage anyone from saying anything because they don’t want to be
considered a “victim” of anything. Not once have I ever used my ancestors past
as a reason for how I couldn’t do anything in the present, however that doesn’t
mean I “forgot” and decided not to educate myself on what they, my
grandparents, my parents, and black people in my generation, faced/facing now.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I find it especially disheartening when I hear black people, and other
minority groups use the “victim” concept. If it weren’t for black people
throughout history, in your words, “complaining” and “being a victim”, you wouldn’t
have the rights you have now as a minority, or it would’ve taken you longer to
obtain those rights.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No one ever said that black people are the only group that were slaves
and oppressed. What IS being said is that black people are still struggling not
only physically, but mentally as well. The negative ways we were made to view ourselves
during slave trade, colonialism and imperialism is still strongly present in
our communities, and society. Black people were enslaved, oppressed, and
treated unequally longer than we have been “free. Slavery may have been 150+
years ago but colonialism and imperialism is not that far off.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Instead of learning why these things are offensive to our culture, some
of you remain unempathetic, not willing to understand, and/or act as if black
people are somehow at fault, the problems we speak of don’t exist, and that you
and this current generation plays no part in trying to solve the problems
created in the past.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the end, it’s as if society is saying, “Let us discriminate against
you in peace! And if you speak up, you (black people) are keeping racism alive,
not us!” To all the black people who aren’t afraid to let their voice be heard,
don’t let anyone try to shut you up, and call you a “victim”, because when you
don’t educate yourself on the past and how it affects the present, and you
don’t educate those who speak negatively of black people (even if they are
black themselves), that’s when you are a true “victim.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">You don’t fight fire with
fire (racism with racism, discrimination with discrimination, prejudice with
prejudice, etc.) because the fire will only burn hotter, and you also don’t
cover it with a blanket “of ignorance” (not talk about it, act like everything
is settled, etc) because it will only catch fire as well. The only way to
extinguish a fire is with water (education, <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">empathy, and respect).</span></span>AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-12686228663576822732017-12-04T12:41:00.000-08:002017-12-04T12:41:34.355-08:00Racism is for real<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You’ve become darker”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘’Don’t stay too long in the sun otherwise you will get
darker’’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘’Dingy lips’’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those are some statements I have heard so many times. Apart
from these undertones, I, and every other black child had been conditioned from
birth to feel inferior about our features.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every supermarket carried bleaching brands: from covert
‘toning’ creams to straight up ‘get rid of your blackness because it’s ugly’
creams. Every black celebrity was unbelievably light skinned, with slim noses
and small lips.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The most painful memory I have of the effects of colourism I
remember was when my nephew asked me, ‘’ what is actually wrong with this black
skin?” This is a question that I suspect majority of black kids have asked. It
is a testament of the destructiveness of the colourism that takes place in the
society, so much so that the word ‘light skinned’ is synonymous to attractive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blackness is regarded as an affliction that should be
corrected if possible. And corrected it is from the thousands of women who
apply bleaching creams (although they are aware that it may potentially destroy
their skin. To them there is nothing worse than being black), to the thousands
who relax their hair (I’m guilty of this as I used to do this but I understand
some do it for easy maintenance, but….), from the makeup tutorials that show
blacks how to slim their noses, to the filters that lighten pictures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">ON THE BRIGHTSIDE, this is not the time to dwell on
negativity. Instead I wrote it to exalt at the new found love and acceptance
that I and many other black women have discovered. The eschewal of self-hate
and skin negativity is the direct result of knowledge and awareness: The
knowledge of why colourism, which is concomitant to racism, exists. It has been
a journey for me, especially coming from Africa where I didn’t need to think
about my skin colour in the same way I am doing in Europe.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No skin colour is better than the other. No physical feature
of one race is more attractive than those of another, there are only standards,
put in place by the white man. But why were they created, why was so much
effort put in depressing all coloured races. To stroke their egos perhaps, or
just because of their spiteful nature, but it is neither. Money and power are
the strongest incentives for the most of the despicable acts committed by
humans. The case is the same for racism.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Through the seventeenth to eighteenth centuries blacks were
taken to America to work without pay, with little food and water. They worked
for ungodly hours and were whipped at any sign of fatigue. Back in Africa the
whites stole our resources and exploited our labour. The perpetrators of
slavery and colonialism knew that blacks were equal to them in every way; they
were logical, intelligent beings and would eventually revolt against their
oppressors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Any human put in such intolerable conditions would before
long seek freedom. In order to prevent this for as long as possible, these
individuals inducted racism. Make the black man feel like an animal, make him
hate himself, hate his colour, and detest his heritage, and he will become
submissive like a dog to his master. Make the average white man feel superior
to blacks, give him the mentality that blacks are merely monkeys, and he will
whip and oppress them with no mercy or compunction. After all they whip their
horses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it is: centuries of oppression, vituperation, and self-hate
all for fiscal gain. Discovering this truth, realizing that there is truly
nothing wrong or unsavoury about you, that all your insecurities were just a
result of human greed and callousness , is just…… Well everyone deserves to
feel it. It is the first and most important step in dismantling racism. Of
course there are other challenges: Wage gaps, exclusion of BME men and women in
taking positions of power, racist police officer who do stop search on young
BME men and neo-colonialism to the killing of black youth through police
brutality- the list is endless, but the first step to being equal is feeling
equal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second step for me after accepting myself was the
normalization of black features, and other features considered as exotic.
Another strategy adopted by the whites to further disenchant us with our
features was the normalization of Eurocentric ones. Apart from emphasizing the
beauty of white men and women and their lookalikes by featuring them on TV, they also sought
to standardize these features, putting them on screen so often that anything
contrary seemed unnatural. And we all know that unnatural or odd to humans
means bad or in this case ugly. Thus, the blue black skin, the wide nose the
full lips, the voluptuous body became anathemas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The process of demolishing this particular vein of racism is
pretty straightforward. Appreciate blackness! Normalize extra dark skin, 4-c
hair, wide noses, full lips and they will lose their anchor weights of racism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is ironic how
resilient, yet fragile racism is. It has thrived for so long enduring, and
permeating every aspect of life around the globe, yet with the slightest
consciousness of it and its workings, it falls disintegrated and wingless to
the earth. It simply takes a few twitter/Instagram pictures and some reflection
on history to its annihilation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Food for thought<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-20773405251615190512017-11-29T11:32:00.001-08:002017-11-29T11:32:46.713-08:00The Policing of Black Women’s Bodies<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last Friday I was on the bus on my way home when I sat next
to a lovely, lovely elderly white lady and we started chatting. We ended up
talking about shoes- winter boots to be specific. She had bought two pairs and
had actually changed into one of the pairs. They were very nice and I told her
I always struggle with getting a perfect fit as my legs are a bit thin.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quickly she said, ‘Oh black women have thin legs’. I was
left speechless and froze. There are times when saying nothing helps but I am still laughing at the level of ignorance around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I am sure you have all heard or are familiar with the
phrases, ‘She doesn’t have a body like a normal black girl’, ‘why don’t you
have a big bum?’ or even, ‘where is your bum?!’ These are just a few examples
of typical everyday comments and questions that are casually thrown into the
mix when addressing and policing what is perceived to be the average body of a
black woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now before I begin, I am in no way discrediting any one type
of body, and this entire article hopes to shed light on the fact that the way
we look does not articulate who we are in any way, shape or form. There is a
common association with what I like to coin, ‘the African physique’, and the
way many view that black women’s bodies should be built.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like many things of African origin, favourable parts of this
physique have been borrowed and merged into popular Western culture for the
purposes of exploitation and reinvention. But before I draw off track, allow me
to elaborate on what this has to do with the way that we police black women’s
bodies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition, with the integration of hip hop culture into
popular culture, all of a sudden we are seeing the African physique along with
its appraisal being thrust into the lime light, and hurled into our faces, and
on to our screens at a thousand miles per hour , what with the Kim Kardashian
etc! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of a sudden the whole world has
once again gone absolutely mad for women with large derrieres!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now where does this leave my argument? Well being constantly
bombarded with images in the media of what a certain type of black woman looks
like, only propels the notion that there is a standardized look that all black
women should aspire to measure up to. If we are viewing this from a purely
biological standpoint, the African physique no longer encapsulates the frame of
black women on a larger scale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Considering the variation of the Diaspora, centuries of
multi-culturalism, migration, slavery and colonization, the genetic make-up of
black women’s bodies has changed. In other terms, the women that we perceive to
be black women, are not necessarily restricted to women of African origin
alone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This does not mean that every woman of African origin
automatically inherits this physique, but you can imagine how the scale of
inheritance is ever fluctuating and complex. There has existed a long standing
stereotype and association among the way that society views black women and the
certain behavioural, or physical attributes that they should possess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Get it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-91631146469536129622017-11-25T13:02:00.000-08:002017-11-25T13:02:19.075-08:00What My Blackness Means To Others<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a black woman I’ve often found myself working very hard
to not fit stereotypes imposed on me, which was difficult seeing as many
stereotypes can fit any human of any race. For example, I can be loud- but only
in social situations. I can be angry-but only if I’ve been upset or I’m
passionate about something, I can be opinionated- because I don’t want to sit
on the fence, but these things are only a part of who I am. People need to
realize that black women offer a lot more than what other’s preconceived
notions of them include, and we shouldn’t be defined by a caricature
stereotype.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many times I’ve met people and their comments suggest their
opinions are based on stereotypes. I don’t recall every occasion, but there are
definitely some standout moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> “You don’t seem like the type”</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many moons ago I went to a job interview for a role that
required me to be upbeat and outgoing. It was an assessment day where they
observed people’s personalities to see if they fit what they were looking for.
One activity required us to stand up and state two truths and one lie about
ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When it came to my turn I stated that I had spent a day with
Nelson Mandela, I play the violin, and that I had two published books. I was
the only black woman going for the job and the rest of the room was made up of
white men and women. They decided the lie was that I played the violin; their
reason for this was I “didn’t seem like the type”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I translated that to mean, “you couldn’t possibly play a
classical instrument because you are a black woman”, although, I wasn’t aware
there was a particular type of person that played a musical instrument! I
didn’t know whether I should be flattered or concerned that they thought it was
more likely that I’d spent a day with Mandela. Black women can do the same as
their white counterparts; race doesn’t limit people’s capabilities!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> “Teach me how to twerk”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why do people assume all black women know how to twerk? And
why do they think black women are their designated twerk coaches? I’ve had many
people come up to me at parties and other social settings asking me if I can
twerk and to teach them how to do it. Believe it or not, this is not how I like
to spend my spare time, I do many other things-twerking isn’t even my preferred
dance move!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> “Black girl attitude”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wasn’t aware there was a label that described every single
black woman’s personality, but apparently it is a universal description of a
particular attitude. Unfortunately, I’ve heard this on more than one occasion.
Although I realize it was used not to cause offense, I wondered why people felt
comfortable to assume I understood exactly what they were describing.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remember in some place I worked, my non-black friend, who was
describing one of her other friends and stated she had “a typical black girl
attitude,” and continued on with the story as if she perfectly explained what
the girl was like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When she finished the story I realized that a “black girl
attitude” described someone who was self-absorbed, aggressive and obnoxious.
While incorporating many negative stereotypes attached to black females, it
fails to acknowledge other aspects of their personality. There was obviously
more to the person she was talking about, however it wasn’t mentioned. I didn’t
know what to make of the situation as it made me question what does she think
about me? I’m assuming she didn’t think I had a “black girl attitude”. But I
do, I’m a black woman, who has an attitude- just like everyone else!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are only three examples of several incidences I’ve had
throughout my life. I’ve been conscious of how I come across to others; there
have been times where I thought to tone myself down due to fear of being
labelled as obnoxious. I’ve made the effort to being cheery but not
overbearing, serious but not miserable and forthright but not rude. I shouldn’t
have to edit or censor myself because of negative stereotypes that are
ingrained in people’s subconscious, but that’s the reality for many black
women. Black women are considerate, intelligent and understanding; we are more
than a person with a bad attitude who likes to twerk everywhere we go.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With all this said, my advice to you would be to educate
these people and then ignore them! It’s easier said than done, but take a deep
breath, find your patience and gently remind them you are more than they think
you are. This isn’t something to be angered by, think of it as ignorance and
assume if they truly understood the impact of the words they said then they
would reconsider these exchanges. Unfortunately you will encounter this for the
rest of your life, so the sooner you find a way of dealing with it the sooner
you will find peace.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember the problem with stereotypes is not that they are
untrue but that they are incomplete. They make one story the only story.The
problem with a single story is that it robs people of dignity. It emphasises
how we are different rather than similar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-10090335707722685682017-11-21T11:43:00.000-08:002017-11-21T11:43:03.169-08:00Let’s Get Real About Representation<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As progressive, modern and inclusive as we’d like to think
today’s world is, we still have a far way to go. For one, television and
mainstream media haven’t yet seemed to tire of playing heavily on the ‘white
knight’ or ‘white saviour’ shtick nor have they tired of robbing black people
of the positive on screen representation we so greatly need and deserve.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There appears to be no shortage of black visibility in
movies and books when we are being cast in a negative light, but we are hard
pressed to see faces like our own when it comes on to more positive matters or
leadership positions . And this is not only alarming but also proves
problematic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Something is grossly wrong with continuing to enforce the
rhetoric of the dirty, helpless, needy black child and the sweet saving white
woman or man who rescues him or her. And unfortunately most philanthropic
efforts play on this one rather heavily whether deliberately or incidentally as
they may like to argue. I know of a BME sister who refused to even apply for a
postdoctoral position in her Russell group University because of the demeaning
and belittling images of BME people that she saw around when she was an
undergraduate. Though movies and ads seem to favour this dynamic, the poor
representation of black men and women doesn’t end there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When our suffering isn’t being documented for grief porn
like purposes, we are being made into the greatest recognizable symbol for
poverty and saddening conditions or we’re being over-represented as jailbirds,
thieves, druggies, drug dealers, dropouts or all around thugs and baddies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All this further feeds into the denigrated view of black
people everywhere – that we’re too uneducated, poor, or otherwise helpless as a
whole, to attain success without the assistance of the descendants of our
colonial slave masters, or that we are all somehow innately bad or predisposed
to criminality and other reprehensible behaviours. Only today when I was in a
public space, I heard people discussing about what’s going on Zimbabwe. Being
Zimbabwean of course I listened only to hear them say, ‘’the people seem to be
a decent lot and apparently educated’’. Really, why shouldn’t we?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ultimately when black people are consistently portrayed in
such a light, with white men and women always playing the hero and us
alternating between playing the villain and the needy citizen, it’s no wonder
we are not often viewed as equals, and are sometimes simply suffered as pity
projects (if we are even believed to be worthy of pity).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For every black girl that’s relegated to the part of
sidekick or a two dimensional character on a little black girl’s favourite TV
show she gets the feeling that that’s where she belongs – on the side-lines.
And for every movie where black boys only play the gun-wielding bad guys, our
young men become further challenged to see themselves as more than rough and
tough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If one were to truly buy into what mainstream media is
selling one would be lead to believe being black is a sentence of being
uneducated, poor and a criminal. There’s also something icky about some
creatives in mainstream media’s commitment to portraying black struggles – past
and present – but unwillingness to boost positive visibility of black men and
women in general. Think of this: if quality black actresses and actors can be
found for every big slavery or post-slavery movie, or any jail scene, how come
these actors can’t be sourced for other projects?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It doesn’t take much for any reasonable person to realize
that not only are black people still being excluded from some narratives and
being over-represented in others, but that picking and choosing who or what we
can be in mainstream media is harmful to us as a community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Representation is key – pivotal – even, and we know this.
Representation remains a valuable tool in the hands of influencers where they
may either choose to provide validation and to be honest in telling people’s
stories or they may choose to do the opposite, even if it isn’t said in as many
words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While mainstream media should never be anyone’s only source
of validation we can’t deny that in this day and age trends on Instagram,
Twitter and prime time television are some of the world’s biggest influencers.
Representation of black people has been poor and skewed for far too long, and
clearly we can’t leave it to mainstream media to raise our next generation of
black girls with a positive self-image, so it is up to us to be the
representational change that we want to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have to first recognize the realness and depth of
anti-black sentiments, then we need to push ourselves to attain greater
visibility, particularly with positive things. After all if you and I know we
can be college graduates, lawyers, nurses, teachers, preachers, writers or
whatever else it’s up to us to go out and be that, making sure that other
sisters (and even brothers too) can see us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-59697720807710305752017-11-19T11:15:00.000-08:002017-11-19T11:15:01.337-08:00When life gets you down as a black woman<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When life gets you down as a black woman, you have an
unspoken duty to be strong. Perseverance then becomes second nature and you
automatically know not to break, especially in the company of others. My
closest perspective of this stems from the women in my family; if they were
hurting you would never know it. I had an aunt diagnosed with cancer and I
didn’t even know how sick she was until she was gone.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I found myself looking at all of the women in my life and
wondering how the hell they kept it together. My life’s ups and downs seemed to
wear on my face like the makeup I glazed on each day when I start my day. I started to
question my strengths as a black woman and whether or not I was cut from the
same cloth as my counterparts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, don’t mistake me for the black girl with a woe-is-me
mentality. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are times when I have
shown my emotions and all I hear people saying of me is ‘overly sensitive,
unprofessional’, ‘you are not in the right place’ only because I have just
showed signs of being upset over something. In one workplace I was told ‘you
are not cut out for this place, here we don’t do illness, migraine headaches,
cancer or whatever is ailing you’’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s almost unfair that we get to watch white women cry, be
goofy, hell even indulge in a little self- pity with little to no one looking
down on them for their humanity. In some cases they are even applauded for
their bravery in the midst of adversity. From my experience, black women aren’t
afforded that same luxury and I am here to shed light on an ongoing situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Girl, get out of your feelings!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In moments of disaster and uncertainty I’ve always been put
back on track by a good “get out of your feelings” nudge. The quick-fix that
places shame on the person whose emotions it’s being directed towards. Well, I
say girl get in those feelings and express them. It’s OK to cry and to be
emotional.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Analyse exactly what you are feeling and ask why. Get to the
root of what it is that you are experiencing and then address it. Since when
has stashing away emotions and acting like things don’t bother you ever helped
a person overcome anything. It doesn’t! It actually has the opposite effect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Strong women are strong enough to know when to let it out. If
you are incapable of self- expression then how strong could you possibly be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A black woman without restraint is unstoppable. If there
were more room for us to be exactly who we are and respond in our own unique
ways I wonder how much power we could attain. That reminds me of a black sister
who tried to do an access to nursing course but the college was adamant she
would not make it into nursing. Lo and behold, this woman was unstoppable,
challenged all and now she is a registered nurse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">People’s expectations of black women when it comes to our
self- expression are built like a prison, meant to keep us in check and aware
of how we make others feel. Never let them box you into thinking that you have
to bend your mood to fit what makes them comfortable. Pain is relative and no
one can measure what you feel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are a rare group of women who encourage each other to say
“forget it” and then genuinely be convicted in thought and action to move on.
True warriors, fighting a seemingly never ending battle to be stronger than
whoever to get through whatever life may bring. I admire our ability to
overcome, but who knew that we could lift those expectations. Lately we have
denied ourselves allowance to be human. We are black women, but we are human first,
we are ever complex and we do have the right to be heard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe, it is possible to be a black woman and go through
life open and allowed to have feelings, good, bad, happy, or indifferent.
Understanding that life will happen and when it does we can grow through it
without the stigma of shame and the angry black women. It is all allowed and as
long as we support one another in our journey for freedom then our song doesn’t
have to be solemn and angry. It can be joyful and full of celebration because
we are free in the mind and have peace within.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-25160399345770149062017-11-15T11:07:00.001-08:002017-11-15T11:07:41.404-08:00Microaggressions in the workplace we’re all sick of having to deal with. <br />
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Navigating the
sometimes daily grind of office life is no easy feat. Between having to deal
with work politics, constant (but not always necessary) meetings and petty
colleagues, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve been dropped into a boxing ring
armed with nothing but your wits.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And while we’re
not discounting the fact that men also experience their fair share of
grievances in the office, it’s much harder if you’re a woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I recently read <span style="color: black;">an article in Bustle in which<u> hepeating</u></span>, a
new term that describes the act in which an ignored idea pitched by a woman is
praised and accepted when it’s repeated by a man, emerged.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The term hit
home with a lot of women.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From
mansplaining and being constantly interrupted, to comments about what we’re
wearing and dealing with underhanded jibes about our qualifications, hepeating
is just another notch on the list of workplace sexism and microaggressions
women have to deal with on a constant basis.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the biggest
problem here is that no matter how overt or subtle it is, many of us feel that
we can’t address the issue because society has always dictated that we act
demurely as women whose demeanours should be rooted in being quiet and
complacent – particularly in workplace environments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In many cases,
job security is on the line – particularly in toxic workplace environments that
actively refuse to be inclusive in terms of equal opportunities and assigned
roles.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not only that
when some women do speak up, they’re often gaslighted and made to question
whether their experiences are actually real or valid, which makes this in
itself an additional microaggression to deal with on top of everything else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From invasive
questions about when you’re planning to be a mother and how it will affect your
job performance to being tone policed when expressing an opinion and then being
asked if “it’s that time of the month”, these remarks and questions are
designed to make us question our worth.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately it
can be even worse when you’re a person of colour. For example, when someone is
“surprised” that you’re so eloquent and articulate. Or assuming that someone is
the tea lady or cleaner when they are a Professor (Note, there is absolutely
nothing wrong with these jobs, but there is something wrong when there is
gender and racial bias attached to them). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The problem with
these little jibes is that they aren’t going to go away any time soon, but the
more we address the issue the more we become aware of the fact and as such can
call people out on their behaviour.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are a few
examples,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In response to people being surprised that you
as a black person can speak “so well”, you should ask why they’re surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turn the tables
on them by asking them what makes you so different that they’re surprised about
your eloquence and take it a step further by questioning them about whether or
not they speak any other languages fluently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another example,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the
never-satisfied manager who uses dismissive and condescending tactics towards
you… Schedule an information-gathering meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beware of such
managers, they like to manage in the grey and continuously move the goal line
so that they never have to truly value your work. You must manage up and hold
them to task by asking them to be specific.</span></span></div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s what you
might say, <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I’d like to
understand from you what success looks like on your team. Can you give me
specific examples of what I need to do to be successful and receive
recognition?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this
question, you are asking what it takes for you to be seen and no longer
invisible in his or her eyes. If he or she beats around the bush, ask them to
describe someone on the team they see as successful and ask them to explain
exactly why that’s the case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You might not
think that things like this matter if it’s never happened to you but it does.
It’s the difference between being happy at work and constantly feeling like
you’re a placeholder whose well-being at work doesn’t matter.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are some experiences
at workplace:<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. The worst
example for me is when you try to resolve a problem etc. and you are told it is
all in your head or you are imagining the problem (AKA gaslighting). You
actually get blamed for saying your feelings or have some mental health
explanation thrown at you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. Staring. For
the most part, I dress in very bright colours. Because of this I am often
scanned from top to bottom a comment ‘I wouldn’t wear that? Shockingly enough
in this case I also experience discrimination from some of the women here who do
this. I can't tell you how annoying it makes me feel. Why should it be an issue
and what has it got to do with work?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. Human
interaction: Some people treat you like they treat everyone else, but others
will turn their backs on you and or refuse to greet you when you greet them.
Some if they do respond at all, they mumble and just when you think they are
having a bad day, they laugh and chat with another team member!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. Social
interaction: Social functions at work are supposed to be events for people at work
to mix and mingle. Nothing is more awkward when people purposefully push you
aside or ignore you. Some will choose not to comment on whatever you are saying
but when another colleague opens their mouth, they get excited. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The joys of the
workplace!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a piece of
work man is. (William Shakespeare)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
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AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330604973705981846.post-43909025343437661422017-11-01T11:21:00.001-07:002017-11-01T11:21:49.665-07:00Sexualisation of Black Women and how it leads to other forms of oppression: A case for intersectionality<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The fetishization of Black women in mainstream culture is no novel
notion. Black women have been seen as sexual objects since slavery. In its most
basic form, a fetish is defined as “something, such as a material object or a
non-sexual part of the body, that arouses sexual desire and may become
necessary for sexual gratification” or “An abnormally obsessive preoccupation
or attachment; a fixation.”. The objectification of Black women in regards
to their body parts is just that—a fixation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s all too prevalent. From
movies to videos, to photos on Instagram, it’s everywhere you turn. Question
however is, do Black females empower the black community when they exploit
fetishization of the hyper-sexualized black female body or is this exploitation
objectifying and therefore devalues rather than of empower the black community.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jezebel: “The woman who was a she-devil”
was a term used to describe Black woman pre-slavery. The term itself has
biblical roots; Jezebel was the wife of Israeli King Ahab and her actions
exemplified lust. The ‘Jezebel’ Black Woman figure was stereotypically constructed
through the initial European encounter with Africans. They associated their
nakedness (which was due to the high temperature) to their lewdness and their
polygamy practices to them not being able to control their libidos. Jezebel
“the promiscuous female with an insatiable sexual appetite” came to represent
the Black woman. Depicting Black women as erotically appealing and openly
seductive was used to excuse White Slave owners abuse of their female slaves.
The sexual myth of ‘jezebel’ serves as a tool for controlling Black women and
throughout history the media exploited the Jezebel myth; using the Jezebel
image to make racism and sexism appear somewhat natural. More recently, we
still see the residual effects of this stereotype, as sexual promiscuity is
imputed on most black women, even absent specific evidence of their individual
sexual histories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Where a “Jezebel” was what black women were defined as pre-slavery,
“Mammy” was used to explain the sexualization of black women immediately after
slavery. The History of Slavery served as the background for the “Mammy”
figure. In slavery, female slaves were often tasked with domestic duties in
White households; preparing meals, cleaning homes, and nursing/rearing their
owners children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good portrayal of
this was ‘The Help by</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Kathryn Stockett.’ These circumstances influenced
the rise of the “Mammy.” Many black feminist, most notably Melissa Harris-Perry
have argued that the “Mammy” figure was created through the imagination of
White Supremacist thought who reimagined the powerless, coerced slave girls as
comfortable consenting women. Like stated before, while originating in slavery
the “Mammy” figure was rose to prominence in the reconstruction Era. Mammy’s
were characterized as large black women with their hair tied up and no sex life
nor family of their own. She lived to take care of her white ‘family’ as she
was the premier house servant; “she could do anything better than everyone.”
She was extremely devoted to her white chargers (children she was in charge
of). Everything about the Mammy demonstrated deference to White
authority. With her idealized figure of a caregiver: amiable, loyal, maternal,
non-threatening and obedient. As her being ‘asexual’ “devoid of any personal
desires that might tempt her to sin” helped her serve as both a confidant and a
moral guide to her young charges, capable of keeping them in line.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Hattie McDaniel in the film ‘Gone with the Wind’ won an Oscar for playing
this role that depicts a Black Woman as stupid and without feelings. The three
principal black characters, Mammy, Prissy and Pork, don’t even have real names
and were portrayed as simple-minded, complacent, even happy in their enslaved
existence, and filled with love for their oppressor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Believe me this is still happening. Recently a friend of mine was once
stopped by a random man and asked to join his band as a dancer. When she asked
why that was she was told because she was black and a good dancer. My friend
was shocked because she never considered herself as ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beyonce</i>’ when it comes to dancing. I was once told by some guy
while at University that he loved black women because they look sexy?! I was
shocked to hear this as surely love has no colour. The black woman has always
appear in as a bad mum, single mother or just a bad person. And it carries on
in the work place. You speak your mind and you are seen a trouble maker, as if
people expect you to be an ‘idiot’- a’mammy’ who should just be happy to have a
job. In the board room , one not to be taken seriously and always being seen as not having enough experience.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Even when it comes to pay a modern day ‘mammy’ should be happy to have a
salary. A friend of mine went on leave due to a serious illness and she is of
course black. The person covering her sickness was white and just for that time
only management thought it fit to pay the white woman more pay than my black
friend. You get my point. What was the reason for the pay disparity for
somebody doing the same job? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So when looking at any policies in the workplace, communities any place,
let’s not forget that a lot of inequalities are interlinked- race, gender, ability
etc. After all, no one would take lightly their organization being led or
having decisions made by a ‘mammy’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
AZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12828602872836485678noreply@blogger.com0