Ask a Self-Advocate: The Impact and Results of Code-Switching

What is Code-Switching?

Code-switching is the act of people of color (POC) altering their behavior when they are around different groups of people, such as White people. POC tend to change their accent, language, tone, and demeanor when they are in predominately White spaces, such as at school and/or work. Since White culture is viewed as the dominant culture, POC are often seen as inferior, forcing POC to code-switch to fit in and be accepted by White people, regardless of its negative consequences

Impact and Results of Code-Switching:

Code-switching affects POC in many ways. First and foremost, code-switching perpetuates the idea that White culture is the dominant and acceptable culture, and that non-White culture is inferior and wrong. It also traps POC between two different cultures, which can impact mental health and lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. POC view themselves differently than how White people portray them, often leading to POC internalizing that they are not good enough for predominately White spaces. Because POC often internalize that they do not fit in, they become unable to escape the “White Gaze.” The White Gaze requires that POC monitor how they look, talk, and behave in the presence of their White counterparts if they want to fit in and be leaders in professional spaces. W.E.B. Du Bois refers to this phenomenon as double consciousness. This double conscious requires POC to ignore a portion of who they truly are to conform to the “norm” being prescribed to them. POC who code-switch must constantly switch back and forth between White culture and their own culture. While this may be easier to do when they are only around one group of people, POC are forced to pick and choose which culture to embody when they are around White people and POC at the same time. For instance, students of color, who have predominately POC classmates, but have predominantly White teachers, have a hard time deciding how they should act. This can lead to an internal conflict because POC may become unsure about which culture to embody. POC who do not code-switch either always embody their own culture or often unconsciously embody White culture but suffer either way. If POC always embody their own culture, then they may not fit into society. If POC always embody White culture, then they will not stay true to themselves and their own identity. Let’s think about code-switching at the intersection of race and disability. POC with disabilities struggle to code-switch and are punished for it due to cultural misunderstandings, insensitivity, and ignorance. In schools, White teachers' discipline, White students bully, and White police officers arrest.

My Own Code-Switching Experience:

As a person with Autism, I have difficulty understanding social cues and norms, which can make code-switching complicated. I have certain triggers that will overwhelm me no matter who I am around. Based on my own lived experience, I find that I can interact more easily to people I can relate to because I am able to be my authentic self, without having to attempt to code switch. It is challenging to have to code-switch, but because of my race, I know that some people may be either fearful and/or critical of me, due to bias. To fit in, I am often forced to code switch in public and professional settings.

Jevon Okundaye is the Program Assistant for MAC’s Racial Equity and Access Project (REAP) and a former MAC Young Adult Leader Fellow. This post is a part of MAC’s Race and Disability webpage. Jevon is a Black autistic young man. He graduated from Tufts University in 2019 with majors in Africana Studies and English. Jevon hopes this blog can teach people about the intersectionality of race and disability. The suggestions in this blog are based on Jevon’s personal experience. He realizes that what worked for him may not work for everyone else.