In this week’s guest column, Clear Company Consultant Maria Carolina Baggio explores the ‘myth of normality’ in the workplace; and how diversity and inclusion (D&I) professionals can create safe and inclusive workplaces for LGBTQ+ staff by combatting discrimination.
What is the most common question directed at pregnant people? You might be wondering what this question has to do with organisational D&I efforts, but I promise we’ll get there.
So, let’s return to the question we posed in the beginning; people who have been pregnant before or are currently pregnant will know how many times they’re asked if the baby is a boy or a girl. But how do the parents know the answer to that question?
MAKING WRONG ASSUMPTIONS
During an ultrasound exam, the doctor will examine the baby’s anatomy. If the doctor sees a genital organ that fits into the medical parameters for a vagina, the baby is considered a female; and from there assumed to identify as a girl and express femininity. If the genital organ fits into the medical parameters for a penis, the baby is considered a male; and their gender identity is supposed to be that of a boy and express masculinity. Therefore, the tags ‘girl’ and ‘boy’ not only refer to a bodily configuration; but also to a presumed gender identity and a series of expectations regarding intellectual abilities, physical abilities, clothing, ways of behaving and speaking, preferred hobbies and also career and work choices. There is also an assumption that girls will be attracted to boys and vice versa.
The fantastic documentary The Mask You Live In explains really well how the two presumed paths described above – vagina-female-girl-femininity and penis-male-boy-masculinity – are considered the normal path in Western societies; (a phenomena we call cis-heteronormativity). Other lived experiences are considered at best different and at worst deviant, abnormal and even abject. In other words, it is assumed that a body will, first, fit into either male or female. Bodies that don’t fit undergo forced medical interventions from birth – and there are more than 40 types of intersex bodies.
LGBTQ+ SAFETY AT WORK
People who don’t identify with the gender assigned to them at birth (i.e. transgender people) or who don’t express themselves as expected (i.e. gender non-conforming people) are focus of much violence throughout their lives; including in the workplace. In recent research by Stonewall, 1 in 3 non-binary people and 1 in 5 trans people reported not feeling safe at work to wear attire representing their identity and expression. Nearly 1 in 5 lesbian, gay and bisexual people are not open with anyone at work about their sexual orientation; with numbers jumping to 1 in 2 bisexual men. In total, 1 in 3 LGBT+ staff have hidden or disguised that they are LGBT at work in the last year because they were afraid of discrimination.
The reasons for such lack of psychological safety are sadly evident; 1 in 5 LGBT+ staff have been the target of negative comments or conduct from work colleagues in the last year because they are LGBT+. One in 5 LGBT+ people who were looking for work said they were discriminated against because of their sexual orientation; and/or gender identity while trying to get a job in the last year. The numbers are even worse for LGBT+ individuals from minoritised ethnic and racial groups; (please refer to the Stonewall report for more figures on LGBT+ at work in the UK). A pilot study by the World Bank estimates that the global cost of exclusion against LGBT+ people costs up to $32 billion.
COMBATTING WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION
So how can D&I professionals help to combat discrimination against LGBT+ professionals?
Understand the climate for inclusion at our organisation/clients and what is getting in the way of psychological safety for LGBT+ professionals.
The facts and figures above reinforce how a psychologically safe work environment. For example, a place where people feel safe to be themselves – is still rare for LGBT+ professionals. When investigating your organisation/clients, pay attention not only to cultural cues such as tolerated homophobic jokes, but also to processes and policies. For example, asking ‘what do you do on weekends?’ can create much anxiety for an LGBT+ candidate as they might not feel comfortable to come out to the interviewer.
Tackle sexism, homo/lesbo/biphobia and transphobia together.
Sexism, LGBphobia and transphobia are direct consequences of the myth of normality; which also means that their root causes are similar. For example, many organisations already have actions in place to support cisgender women employees. Cultural initiatives countering stereotypes against women leaders are directly challenging the vision of what does it mean to be a man or a woman, to be masculine or feminine; and where these characteristics are valuable. Including gender non-conforming and transgender people is an extension of those same questions and an expansion of the same answers. The issues the different groups are facing are by no means the same and thus positive actions will not be equal. Equity is the word here, but the culture change points to the same direction.
Challenge the myth of normality.
The myth of normality shapes who we perceive as adequate to exert different professions. Challenge unconscious biases and stereotypes that shape how we perceive excellence. As a society, we have been doing solid work on this remit when it comes to women’s insertion in male-dominated fields. Now, it’s time to go a step further and question: why are LGBT+ people so linked to fashion and aesthetics? Can we visualise LGBT+ people – especially those who are gender non-conforming; and/or belong to other minoritised communities – as experts, managers, leaders, business owners? There is a growing number of quality resources that can be shared to raise awareness and debunk the myth of normality. A few of my favourites are:
- Today in Focus ‘Josh Cavallo: the world’s only openly gay top-tier men’s footballer’ (podcast)
- Explained, episode ‘Fairy Tales’ (Netflix series)
- I’ve lived as a man & a woman — here’s what I learned (Paula Stone Williams TEDxMileHigh)
- Ben Barres: A transgender scientist shares his story (article)
GENDER & SEXUALITY AT WORK EVENT
Gender and Sexuality are D&I trending topics once again. However without a proper understanding of the cultural and institutional backdrop to the subject, short term, restrictive D&I initiatives can be the result.
So, the Clear Company is offering an open lecture on Gender and Sexuality for D&I practitioners on 28 June 2022. The learning objective for the session is to expand the conversation on Gender and Sexuality; presenting a conceptual framework that allows practitioners to contemplate the bigger picture and promote courageous, authentically inclusive and pragmatic solutions to their organisations/clients. Click here for more information.
MORE ABOUT MARIA CAROLINA BAGGIO
Maria Carolina Baggio started working with Diversity & Inclusion after witnessing the reality of transgender people in São Paulo, Brazil. A bisexual business graduate from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, she was sure there was transformative potential in authentically inclusive organisations. During her Master’s degree, in which she studied the career opportunities for transgender professionals, Baggio joined a group of LGBTQ+ professionals with a mission to make organisations more inclusive. Since then, she moved to the UK and broadened her horizons.
Baggio has facilitated Gender and Sexuality sessions for hundreds of delegates; including D&I practitioners, ERG members, senior leaders, middle-managers and academics. At the Clear Company, she leads Audit and Learning projects for companies of different sizes and sectors. In her work, she has an eye for micro-cultures and local practices; whilst mindful of the importance of a unifying, global strategy. Baggio is a curious qualitative and quantitative researcher; using D&I data, interviews and focus groups to assess opportunities and take her clients one step further on their D&I journeys. On learning, she is an empathetic facilitator, going where the organisation and delegates are; and not shying away from tricky subjects and sensitive debates.
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