Affiliation:
1. University of Nevada, Reno, USA
Abstract
As the population of the United States workforce changes, both in generations and ethnicity, professionalism must evolve to become more accepting of cultures, abilities, and backgrounds. Professionalism has been a construct that has evolved since the times of colonialism, rooted in white supremacist behaviors and hierarchical structures that inherently go against the cultural being of people of color. Interwoven among the expectations of professionalism in the workplace are facets of polite behavior. Politeness is a tool that was created by the bourgeoisie and implemented through power structures within organizations and businesses. Throughout history, politeness has been used as a weapon against people of color, solidifying hierarchical expectations and erasing cultural and ethnic identities in the name of profit. This chapter reviews the history of polite professionalism, its inherent oppressive nature, and how one can use embodied authenticity to combat polite professionalism.
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