Playing the Game of Respectability Politics, But At What Cost?

She’s a dark-skinned Black woman with pink hair, nose piercings, and tattoos to match.

When her clients see her, they’re surprised that she’s their therapist.

They didn’t think I was going to look like them.

And so to see that it motivates them.

History of Respectability Politics

Respectability politics is nothing new in the United States.

These tools of White supremacy have attempted to strip away their authenticity and cultural expression.

It refers to the belief that marginalized communities must adhere to dominant cultural norms to receive respect.

Respectability politics is a dangerous and ineffective coping mechanism from years of abuse and ostracization.

Another form of resistance is putting an end to code-switching.

TheEncyclopedia Brittanicadefines code-switching as how people who spoke another language other than English switched seamlessly between the two.

And we just have to have the courage to be able to do that.

I’m working on that myself, building that courage.

Being that person that can be that.

So hopefully, I can be an example for somebody else to do the same."

“We have to resist these micro-aggressive behaviors by really sticking up for ourselves.

And that is so difficult for people,” Estes says.

“I tell them to do subtle resistance things gradually,” Estes continues.

Just something that makes you feel more comfortable.

Not speaking up can lead to anxiety and leaving the workforce.

A lot of people now just want to be themselves," she says.

A lot of people now just want to be themselves.

Estes says that even within the mental health industry, she’s encounteredharmful stereotypesand ignorance.

Both Estes and her coworker decided to leave the company.

And so that comes in a lot with diagnosis and misdiagnosis."

Williams is not alone in his optimism for the future.

Baer said she also feels hopeful and thrives best in community with others.

So that’s something that helps me continue to learn and figure out what thriving means for me.

Slow, positive changes are still continuing to happen.

Artwork by Alex Dos Diaz

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Slack.Leveling the playing field in the new hybrid workplace.