Note: To honor the words of our contributors, the texts are unedited. Our only addition is the introductory statement with “Thank you for calling,” and the closing statement with “Thank you for listening.”
Thank you for calling. My experience with racism and xenophobia in the workplace has been challenging. It involves:
Experiencing the frustration of having my ideas initially dismissed, only to be lauded when presented by someone who doesn’t share my appearance. Enduring perceptions of lower intelligence and professionalism, resulting in unnecessary editorial suggestions and micromanagement from colleagues who aren’t my direct supervisors. Receiving unwarranted criticism for email communication and Zoom photo poses. Confronting a letter of expectation after addressing a leadership mistake, facing biased task assignments based on racial perceptions. Confronting accusations of aggressiveness, anger, or having an attitude. Enduring assumptions about my health due to wearing a turban, along with unfounded remarks questioning the quality of my assessment skills. Moreover, enduring the insensitive remark that my culturally significant hairstyle is deemed unprofessional and unkempt, adding a layer of insult to the challenge of navigating biased perceptions in the professional realm. Experiencing the frustration of having my ideas initially dismissed, only to be lauded when presented by someone who doesn’t share my appearance. Enduring perceptions of lower intelligence and professionalism, resulting in unnecessary editorial suggestions and micromanagement from colleagues who aren’t my direct supervisors. Receiving unwarranted criticism for email communication and Zoom photo poses. Confronting a letter of expectation after addressing a leadership mistake, facing biased task assignments based on racial perceptions. Confronting accusations of aggressiveness, anger, or having an attitude. Enduring assumptions about my health due to wearing a turban, along with unfounded remarks questioning the quality of my assessment skills. Moreover, enduring the insensitive remark that my culturally significant hairstyle is deemed unprofessional and unkempt, adding a layer of insult to the challenge of navigating biased perceptions in the professional realm.
All of these things have characterized my experience.
Thank you for listening.
THE UNCENTER 