For instance, when I am traveling men frequently try to carry my luggage, or put it in the overhead bin of the airplane. The general perception that fuels such actions is that women are the proverbial weaker sex. I truly do not mind when men attempt to assert themselves for me because of my gender (and because of theirs, frankly). On the other hand, I realize I am quite capable of doing most things almost any other person is able to do, male or female.
Nevertheless, my gender definitely influences my behavior at work. I am privileged to be able to work around a number of strong, competent, and in some instances, brilliant women. However, society is still male dominated and this perception naturally extends itself to the workplace. There are certain instances at work where I do not speak up as quickly as I could, or even probably would, if I was a man. In this respect I do feel some degree of pressure to perform, and to perform well, since I am a woman. I sometimes have the perception that I need to prove myself, especially when I am in situations in which there are few woman and mostly men. Quite possibly this perception is one that is only in my mind, but I want male employees to value my contributions and to view me as an equal. What is particularly interesting about this subject is the fact that some of my female friends have actually shared a similar sentiment with me. This includes women who I have worked with and friends who are telling me about their experiences in their respective jobs. I have seen some women in situations where they have attempted to contribute to a group discussion, only to have their input marginalized. I have never wanted such a thing to happen to me. Fortunately, at this point it has not. But it is because I do not want such an experience to happen to me that I am probably more reserved at work than other -- mostly male -- employees are. It seems to me that there are both positives and negatives associated with this stance of mine.
Race is another primary dimension of diversity that I believe affects my perceptions and my performance at work. Again, I tend to posit the fact that my race -- I am White -- more affects other people's opinions about me and my identity than it does my own. However, I have taken additional classes related to notion of socio-economic status and privilege. I realize that as a part of the dominant race in this country, I have received a certain degree of privilege that others who are not part of my race may not have experienced. I tend to consider this form of privilege I terms of what John Keats referred to as negative capability. For instance, I have never been followed around in a retail store. When most people look at me, they assume that I am harmless. They do not think that I am a thief or that I am looking to start trouble. Some people have told me that I give the appearance of being trustworthy. I think part of that has to do with my race, to a certain extent at least.
It is more difficult…
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