I find this discussion fascinating because of my own odd credibility issues. Unlike Tom MacMaster, I won't be able to walk away from mine.
I first discovered that there were issues of credibility when I started working as a social worker in Brooklyn, New York. I already knew about appearing much younger and thought I had solved the issue by wearing glasses. Not so, and I discovered a new problem. In addition to having people ask if I was old enough to be doing this work (I was approaching 30), I kept seeing them do a double-take when meeting me in person after speaking with me on the phone. Finally one woman voiced what they all had been thinking. She stopped at the door of my office, turned to me, and said, "I thought you were a white person!"
Credibility issues anyone?
Black people deny me credibility because I sound like a white person. White people deny me credibility because I don't sound like a Black person.
Shall we add some hidden issues? Go to the gym and you won't believe that I have 9 broken (now healed, one repaired through surgery) bones in my back. Listen to me doing public speaking and you won't believe that I am autistic. Look at the color of my skin and you won't believe that I have a PhD. Know that I have a PhD and you won't believe that I am a train wreck of executive functioning (ADHD).
I don't look or sound like anything I am.
But at least I won't be pretending that I am a Syrian lesbian.
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branchandroot
Credibility Issues, Anyone?
Date: 2011-06-14 10:59 am (UTC)I first discovered that there were issues of credibility when I started working as a social worker in Brooklyn, New York. I already knew about appearing much younger and thought I had solved the issue by wearing glasses.
Not so, and I discovered a new problem. In addition to having people ask if I was old enough to be doing this work (I was approaching 30), I kept seeing them do a double-take when meeting me in person after speaking with me on the phone.
Finally one woman voiced what they all had been thinking. She stopped at the door of my office, turned to me, and said, "I thought you were a white person!"
Credibility issues anyone?
Black people deny me credibility because I sound like a white person.
White people deny me credibility because I don't sound like a Black person.
Shall we add some hidden issues? Go to the gym and you won't believe that I have 9 broken (now healed, one repaired through surgery) bones in my back. Listen to me doing public speaking and you won't believe that I am autistic. Look at the color of my skin and you won't believe that I have a PhD. Know that I have a PhD and you won't believe that I am a train wreck of executive functioning (ADHD).
I don't look or sound like anything I am.
But at least I won't be pretending that I am a Syrian lesbian.