The concept of diversity and inclusion went into full flow this year for me. I often talk about equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) with conviction. The conversation rolls off my tongue. I am very passionate about EDI, but little did I realise how I myself needed to make some changes in my own practice.
When I started to write up my articles/blogs, I promised myself I would be giving a fair account, a true account, including instances which meant reflecting on myself. I may regret this article (hopefully not)…here goes! Let me walk you through a moment that really got me to take stock.
One of my Nigerian students I had been teaching at the University this year, one day came in, in his cultural attire (i.e. clothing worn in Nigeria and within the community here representative of their culture). I compliment his outfit and the conversation struck a chord. At the end of my session he thanked me for the compliment, and it was high-fives all round. But here I am complimenting this young man for his attire, yet in all my years studying in university (and let’s say there’s been many), now lecturing and let’s just be frank about it, anywhere I’ve worked/work…I’ve never worn my traditional cultural attire into work. The very most I have achieved is throwing on a saree or lengha for a couple of evening work balls/parties. So this incident very much hit home.
On the contrary, outside the workplace, around the house, out with friends and family I wear a mix of ‘Western’, ‘British’ attire as well as ‘Asian’ attire, whatever I feel like. I clearly don’t have an issue in that department compared to the stark contrast of a workplace setting.
I’m proud of my British and very much my Welsh upbringing. I’m also immensely proud of Bangladeshi, South Asian heritage and upbringing. I take great pride in talking about my culture and faith with anyone that will listen. I take strength from my culture and faith. Yet, I am, and I’m sure hundreds and let’s face it thousands (…if not millions, let’s throw it out there) that are not in a place we feel we can share this truly in the workplace.
To keep aligned with my culture and faith in the workplace I do try to dress modestly, which in simple terms means not to have too much on display. I’ve also seen others bring in elements of their culture and faith into the workplace, be it headwear or something they carry with them.
Growing up, I like many others living in Britain lived what I sometimes refer to do as dual life when it came to clothing. We had our ‘Western’, ‘English’ clothing, which would just be seen as just clothing in the UK haha and then clothing that represents our culture, country of origin, heritage, community, faith etc.
I’m the first, who is more than happy to throw on a saree for a special occasion outside of work. I keep in tune with the latest Asian fashion treads. I can walk you through all the variations of a saree, how and why different communities wear a saree in a different way. I’m quite in tune with those sorts of things. I can talk you through different dialects, the mix of cultures and faiths prominent by south asian regions, the etiquettes of culturally addressing people and how you navigate various cultural settings.
Given how much pride I have for my culture why do I and others, not represent this enough in the workplace in our clothing. Let’s face it, many of us already stand out as it is. Rocking it in our traditional gear only adds another layer of complexity. Could it be because it’ll make us stand out further, the feeling of discomfort, not wanting to make others uncomfortable in our presence, are we playing it safe, feel we won’t be taken seriously or considered professional. There you go, I’ve said it out aloud! Is it that the two shall never meet? We drum on about equality and diversity but why is wearing traditional wear from across the globe not the norm in the workplace here.
For some, there may be a singular reason but if I’m honest with myself, for me, it has been a mix of different reasons. Lately, it’s also been subconscious too. I’m in autopilot mode with work attire as I guess most are.
Over the summer, I spoke to my cousin about my thoughts. She works in the corporate world and has worked very hard to earn rank. She also happened to hold similar views and having worked so hard noted, “what if we are not be taken so seriously or accepted in our Asian/traditional clothing in the workplace”. There’s obviously some deep inherent connotation within such a casual conversation.
Additionally, my conversation with her added another layer of analysis, through the ‘gender’ lens, the concept of being an Asian woman/woman of colour in the corporate world. This is by no means to discredit men; men may also carry respective baggage with them in the workplace. The conclusion of our conversation was a united sister moment (…yes we had one of those moments), we decided we want to and shall make changes in our own work attire.
Having now taken account of myself and now openly to the world, one could now say, change may be expected. Isn’t that what’s expected in an AA meeting?? On a serious note, I have thought about where I am, we are and also where we need to be, as communities and workplaces. We need to be more part of the process of change.
With globalisation comes homogeneity and it would be a sad state of affairs if cultural identities and differences are lost.
For me, there’s some practicalities to this sort of thing. For example, I can’t see myself easily pacing up and down the workplace staircase in a saree, when the lift breaks down, which can often happen.
But there are real changes I and I’m sure you can make. There’s no reason (beyond the reasons I’ve already stated above) why I can’t throw on a Kaftan, a Salwar Kameez or even a dupatta on my shoulder in the workplace (now…that’s me throwing in my south Asian vocabulary). My male counterparts, you can also make a conscious choice. Why not wear a thobe/thawb, a piece of clothing that represents your culture in your workplace.
We are all work in progress. Whatever your heritage, culture, ethnicity…let’s start to represent what makes us us in the workplace in whatever form you can, obviously respectfully and within the parameters of the law (….that’s me throwing in my caveat haha).
I hope I haven’t startled you with my open and frank account of myself and way forward. Don’t be surprised to see my over time, sporting a Kameez or Kaftan at work. What makes diversity great is that we are all different and bring something rich to the table. This should be celebrated, integrated and more reflected in the workplace.
I hope those of you reading this also feel empowered to open up the conversation with yourself and others to bring your culture into the workplace.
