Do You Know What It's Like?
Do you know what it’s like to shrink your genius so as not to offend a fragile ego?
Do you know what it’s like to dim your shine for fear of blinding an audience?
Do you know what it’s like to have to explain your value to a company but in third person?
Do you know what it’s like to not be able to call out explicitly biased treatment?
Do you know what it’s like to fear being fired just for speaking up in the name of justice?
Do you know what it’s like to be the only person with moral courage in a room full of privilege?
Do you know what it’s like to be the highest performer and also grossly undervalued?
Do you know what it’s like to be continually judged by double standards?
Do you know what it’s like to be dinged for not fitting in with gender norms?
Do you know what it’s like to be all too familiar with being a target of “tone policing”?
Do you know what it’s like to be hyper aware of gender and racial discrimination?
Do you know what it’s like to be compensated less just because of the way you look?
Do you know what it’s like to know that things would be so much easier if you were not a woman or a minority?
Do you know what it’s like to be hired for your expertise w/proof while men are hired for their unproven potential?
Do you know what it’s like to be the most educated person in a room and not be seen or heard?
Do you know what it’s like to see men you mentored lead unicorns and nobody know how much you helped them?
Do you know what it’s like to leave your full self at the door?
Do you know what it’s like to never see gender and racial equality in practice, much less true DE&I in practice?
Do you know what it’s like to explain unconscious bias to your superiors?
Do you know what it’s like not to be a White male in tech?
Do you know what it’s like to be the only one who looks like you in any department, startup, or company?
Do you know what it’s like to never be represented in leadership?
Do you know what it’s like to be represented by the lowest paid people?
Do you know what it’s like to have to regularly justify why you’re so competent at your job?
Do you know what it’s like to have to explain why your 17+ years of experience in your field makes you more capable than a man with no experience in your field?
These are not exaggerations and neither are they hypothetical questions. These are all from my lived experience and I know I’m not alone.
I wish for this to be a powerful reminder of the challenges that many of us face in the workplace, and also to serve as a call to action. It's a call to all of us to stand up against bias, discrimination, and inequality in all its forms. It's a call to create workplaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. It's a call to celebrate diversity, not just tolerate it.
Together we can create a future where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive and succeed, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. Let's commit to building a world where every person feels seen, heard, and valued for who they are. Together, we can make this vision a reality.
What will you do today to make a difference?
Are you a company that shares my values? If so, let’s talk! 🙏
