Intellectual Free For All: Culture of Success
- How important is image when it comes to job/career success?
- To what degree should a person conform to certain standards of image in order to find job/career success?
- Should the standards be changed?
Think for a moment that you are a hiring manager for a large law firm. It is nearly 3:30, and you've just begun to interview a person who was supposed to have been there at 3:00. The person is qualified for the position, but their appearance is raising eyebrows and wrinkling noses: The person is wearing ill-fitting, wrinkly, food-stained workout clothes, smells as though s/he hasn't showered in two weeks, and has an ego the size of Montana. I think we can all agree that this person is unlikely to be hired. Presentation is everything, and if you can't be bothered to show up on time, take a shower, and wear something appropriate to an interview, why should a company add you to their payroll over someone who can?
But what if that person was 15 minutes early, polite, had neatly pressed, clean clothing, but also:
- Lacked makeup (if she was female) or wore makeup (if he was male)?
- Had extreme body modifications, such as facial piercings/plugs and tattoos?
- Wore a colorful African bubu dress and head-tie?
- Spoke with a heavy Puerto Rican accent?
- Had a startlingly loud voice, accompanied by wild hand gesticulations?
- Was a flamboyantly gay man?
- Is openly Muslim?
The two articles I am going to post deal with people of color in the workplace, but of course the issue is much broader than that. GLBT people may feel pressured to keep hidden or "act straight" while at work. And, of course, in post-9/11 USA, there is a big problem among Muslims or anyone of Middle Eastern origin trying to prove themselves loyal and/or not dangerous. Many people achieve this by wearing clothing that is typical of other Americans, rather than traditional clothing.
In a survey of more than 1,600 minority professionals, Dr. Hewlett and Princeton professor Cornel West found that sterling credentials can be overshadowed by personal and cultural traits. Everything from cornrows, ethnic jewelry, animated hand gestures, and certain manicures can leave colleagues thinking, "You're different."
This is a quote from a 2005 article published by the Christian Science Monitor entitled "Is 'White' the Only Color of Success?" (Read the full article here.) The article focuses on an issue that many people of color face when trying to be taken seriously in their job field: By retaining cultural or physical traits that are specific to their ethnicity (or in some cases, religion or general social culture), they risk being left behind while Caucasian counterparts, as well as people of color who comply to Caucasian standards of image, excel in their careers. There are certain stereotypes that people attribute to things such as hair, traditional jewelry, etc., and these stereotypes may unfairly aid or hinder an individual in a particular industry.
This is a more recent article I found on Monster.com's "Career Advice" section: "Your Professional Image: Balance Self-Expression with Workplace Expectations". This article also acknowledges the issue I mentioned above but advises that people of color also conform to some degree with the mainstream. (Although the company or their standards are not obligated to meet them halfway.)
What do you think?
Want to participate in this week's discussion? Be sure to read the guidelines!
On a semi-related note: I noticed that not many of you participated in the last discussion on human value/worth. Was it a weak topic? Was it too complicated or vague to answer? Did you just not notice I'd updated? Let me know. I'm always trying to improve upon these discussions!