Code Switching Is Not a Strategy. It Is a Tax.

Episode notes

"Am I showing up as the full version of myself — or am I sending my representative to run the show?" In this episode, I'm getting honest about code switching: why so many of us chose it strategically for safety, survival, and career advancement — and what it actually costs us over time. I share my own story of "putting on my white girl" early in my career, what it earned me, and the moment I realized the exhaustion was no longer worth the trade. We also dig into the research, because this isn't just a you problem — it's a systems problem: ▸ Women still earn 81 cents to every man's dollar (AAUW, 2024) ▸ 70% of Black women say they've felt the need to code switch at work (Race Equality Matters) ▸ 67% of Black women report having to constantly prove themselves — vs. only 10% of white women (Catalyst) ▸ Chronic racial stress is linked to accelerated biological aging — up to 7.5 years (American Journal of Public Health) This is why I don't say imposter syndrome. I say imposter treatment. You can only feel like an imposter if a system keeps treating you like one.