How Code-Switching Leads to Imposter Syndrome for WOC in Corporate Technology

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, code-switching is defined as, The "process of shifting from one linguistic code (a language or dialect) to another, depending on the social context or conversational setting."

When identifying code-switching in corporate settings, I don’t look for loud exaggerated caricatures. I don’t think of minstrel-type, cartoonish gestures that were designed to mock the cultural displacement of Black American descendants of slavery.

This pattern of behavior was adopted to demean us. Code-switching is a behavioral pattern practiced by African American people as a survival apparatus. It is a veil we adopt to soften the sting of ostracization forced on us from the pressures to assimilate in every environment.

The first stanza of The Mask by Maya Angelou comes to mind.

The Mask

We wear the mask that grins and lies.

It shades our cheeks and hides our eyes.

This debt we pay to human guile

With torn and bleeding hearts…

We smile and mouth the myriad subtleties.

Why should the world think otherwise

In counting all our tears and sighs.

Nay let them only see us while

We wear the mask.

Code-switching can be displayed by wearing a straight wig to cover your kinky tresses. It can be stiffening your handshake instead of a casual combination of “daps”, fist bumps, or hand signals.

When speaking, it can be a combination of words, phrasing, or usage of tone to merge American vernacular English regional speaking patterns representative of the culture of the people who settled there.

A heavy Southern drawl can warm any heart. Especially when it is oozing from the lips of a woman like warm honey on a buttered biscuit. It displays trustworthiness to the listener.

But on the downside, it causes them to deem your use of AAVE as a sign of aloofness, unintelligence, or laziness.

You disarm the listener and make them more accepting, but this causes them to lose engagement in your words. It also causes distrust if the person notices inconsistencies in the social and behavioral cues presented. It can come off as disingenuous or manipulative.

Once a subconscious practice used as a way to submit to the assimilation practice forced on them, code-switching is now a choice, a crutch.

Although awareness of the historical and psychological impacts of this practice is increasing, it is still a subconscious survival mechanism that many Americans of color don’t even realize they are doing on a daily basis.

As a young Black woman, while attending a predominately white university, in student cafes, I realized I was trying to code switch when ordering my Grande Frappuccino from Starbucks like my classmates.

I habitually stressed each syllable of my order to avoid being misunderstood and still received a cup with my misspelled name scrawled across. How do you mishear Brittany for Tiffany or Whitney? Is my accent really that thick? Am I overdoing it?

It causes an extreme case of self-doubt and uncertainty. The imposter syndrome begins to slowly creep in. The disconnect is no longer just in the classroom, and the pressure to morph into someone with more mass appeal becomes heavy.

However, I noticed that this was also an advantage after graduation and progressing in my career. I realized that this understanding gap is the perfect wedge to place yourself in a prime advantage during technical or high-level discussions.

The negative aspects of stereotypes against black people, particularly women, place a position of code-switching into the "token" black role a cushy settlement.

By using language barriers to disarm initial imposter syndrome, you can present yourself in a non-threatening manner more effectively and reap the benefits of submitting to the socially perceived lesser role.

However, the negative of this advantage is that you are also forced to present yourself inauthentically. You can never perform and excel when being insincere in your intention.

Taking an affirmative action role is a default move and only places you in a passive advantage, thus a disadvantage.

The professional advantages you gain ultimately don't serve you. You also become insecure in your ability to perform without cloaking yourself.

People form first impressions nearly immediately. Those impressions are often encoded by stereotypes and biases that have been culturally embedded into us.

Even the most racially tolerant and welcoming American has preconceived prejudices generationally programmed by decades of systemic racism. How do you combat those prejudices? – by highlighting their ridiculousness of them.

Play into ridiculous stereotypes by mirroring those expectations against others. You don't have to embody the stereotypes; you simply reflect the negatives and embrace the true positives.

Speak in your natural culture dialect or wear your cultural garb with confidence and grace. Don’t shrink yourself to fit into an unrealistic corporate image.

My method of letting my personality show in an authentic yet professional manner is to sprinkle the individual flair and style of my background on my work like seasoning. Slang and euphemisms aren’t always helpful when speaking in a high-level technical environment.

However, a casual tone is useful to slow the flow of aggressive discussions. A conversational tone is less intimidating than cold, factual dialogue and establishes rapport. When speaking publicly, I can utilize those patterns of speech to rouse a listener.

It becomes a garnish instead of a tool to carry a conversation. I don't switch my tone or mimic the speech of the other person to appeal to their cultural sensitivities because it isn’t necessary to alter my patterns.

In high-level conversation, discussions can become tense and spirited as passions run high.

To diffuse a heated discussion, a light-hearted phrase would be a casual non-threatening way to remind the speakers to return to a more suitable tone of voice without using pointed or accusatory language.

My knowledge of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) comes in handy because it is perfect to gain a sense of familiarity. It is a communal language. The vowels flow off the tongue in a relaxed manner that invites the listener in.

When talking to another person of color, it establishes a sense of community and connection. When done subtly, it is perfect for an impromptu elevator pitch. People are also generally more approachable when the person shares similarities, such as race, nationality, or ethnicity.

It's an instant commonality and ice-break to establish and build rapport. This isn’t something to switch on and off, it is a characteristic I simply embody. It isn’t a weakness. It is a strength to celebrate instead of masking.

Code-switching might not be the survival apparatus it was in previous generations. However, it is useful for African Americans and people of color to continue to navigate systems within this country.

It is not necessary to practice code-switching anymore because there are many opportunities for people of color to utilize their voices and occupy spaces in a skilled manner without betraying themselves culturally or having to take on the role of an imposter in the workplace.

Exceptional performance can be highlighted without cultural barriers and division of circumstances.