Challenges of Fitting In

The experience of being a Black woman in a predominantly white corporate environment can be isolating and stressful. Individuals like Patricia Hulen recount how they felt the need to conform to workplace norms that did not align with their identities, sacrificing their authenticity in the process. This pressure often leads to strategic changes in behavior and appearance, such as modifying speech or adopting interests that aren't genuinely their own. Such adaptations create a façade, where the desire to fit in overshadows the individual's true identity, leading to discomfort and dissonance.