The Facade of Professionalism
When we think of professionalism, we often imagine someone who is an expert in their field, conducting business with courtesy and respect. However, the reality is that professionalism has become more about appearances than actual skills. We’re not talking about whether someone knows what they’re doing, but rather whether they look like they know what they’re doing.
The Myth of Professionalism
The myth of professionalism is rooted in the idea that there’s a set of guidelines or rules to follow in order to succeed. These rules are often centered around presentation, rather than actual knowledge or expertise. We’re led to believe that if we follow these rules, we’ll be taken seriously and achieve success. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Prototypical Professional
Our cultural prototype of a professional is often a well-dressed, highly educated, white man who is a native English speaker and married to a woman. The closer someone is to this prototype, the more rules they can break. Mark Zuckerberg, for example, can wear casual clothes and still be seen as a serious professional because he aligns with this prototype.
Breaking the Rules
For the rest of us, infractions are used to explain away mistreatment, disrespect, or dismissive attitudes. We’re told to “dress for the job we want” or to change our behavior to fit in. But this advice is rooted in sexism, racism, homophobia, and classism. It’s not about being taken seriously because of our skills or knowledge, but rather about fitting into a predetermined mold.
Respectability Politics
This is a classic case of respectability politics, where marginalized groups are told to act “respectably” in order to earn respect. But this approach blames the oppressed for not succeeding in a system designed to exclude them. It’s not about changing our behavior to fit in, but rather about addressing the systemic issues that prevent us from succeeding in the first place.
The Privileged Few
Those who are already privileged don’t have to follow the rules. They can lean on nepotism, generational wealth, and social privilege to succeed. Marginalized folks who “make it” often perpetuate the myth that following the rules was the key to their success. But this narrative ignores the systemic barriers that prevent others from achieving the same level of success.
The Real Problem
Ultimately, the myth of professionalism convinces us that individual actions can overcome systemic issues. But this is a flawed approach. We need to stop telling each other to change our behavior and start addressing the real problems: discrimination, prejudice, and systemic inequality. We need to create new systems that value diversity and inclusivity, rather than trying to fit into a broken system.
It’s Time for Change
So, let’s stop perpetuating the myth that professionalism is about appearances rather than skills. Let’s stop telling each other to “dress for success” and start working towards real change. It’s time to create a new narrative, one that values diversity, inclusivity, and actual expertise. Only then can we achieve true equality and success.
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