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Why is discrimination so hard to recognize?
Prior to September 2022, I would of told you I had faced gender discrimination many times in my career and I’ve always risen above it.
However, I realize now - I had overcome subjective bias and misinformed opinions in my past, but not outright discrimination.
Now having learned the hard way that there is a difference between gender bias and gender discrimination, I also know that when an individual exhibits explicit bias it can trigger and amplify the subjective bias in others.
So in this post, we’ll review what it looks like when discrimination starts and the relationships around you begin to change.
The changes are often subtle at first:
The discriminating individual will make an off-color joke that makes everyone uncomfortable, but no one speaks up and a few laugh politely to avoid making it more awkward.
The discriminating individual insists a more qualified person is not the right person for the role based on subjective reasons rather than performance, but they are persuasive and soon others agree.
In close work environments, we seek alignment with our peers to collaborate effectively which may include adjusting our attitudes and decisions, sometimes without even realizing we’re doing it. Unfortunately these natural tendencies can have negative implications, if someone introduces bias into the group. Our desire to align and avoid conflict can inadvertently lead to allowing a discriminatory opinion by a dominant individual to become normalized even among those who never showed bias before.
When trusted colleagues — mentors, advocates, or friends — reinforce or ignore biased behavior, it may become harder for you as the individual experiencing discrimination to recognize it. Trust in these individuals can cloud judgment, leading to self-doubt, because you don’t want to believe these individuals would participate in behavior that could and would harm you. Over time, it will likely be the close bonds and shifting relationships that may cause the most harm, leaving you questioning your own perceptions and filled with self-doubt as those you trust dismiss your valid concerns.
How can JustiProof and documentation help?
The complexity of these situations and the emotions involved as you reconcile what you believe you know about a person with what their actions indicate is what makes discrimination hard to recognize. That is why we created a whole series on the early warning signs of discrimination.
In my own fight, I continued to believe I was the problem until I started documenting each incident and was faced with the facts directly. It was only then, through objective documentation that I was able to recognize and accept that those I once trusted had become contributors to the discrimination and retaliation I was experiencing. I had to accept that they were no longer allies and would likely never be again.
This isn’t easy to do, but there is relief in no longer having to doubt and question what is happening around you. Which is why we created the JustiProof application to help people get clarity and prepare to fight back by documenting their experiences clearly, directly and effectively.
Only through documentation could I finally identify the individuals who had turned themselves into enemies. I still couldn’t stop the attacks, but at least now I knew where they were coming from and could take the steps necessary to protect myself.
Now with JustiProof, I hope to help others build a path to clarity, so you can make sense of what's happening and choose the path that makes the most sense for you.
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