Manthagini

There was a social media post by a young girl who was crying because she wasn’t able to get a job. She had been applying to 10 to 25 jobs a day and didn’t even receive an acknowledgment that her applications were received. Some of the rejections mentioned that she was underqualified, while others said she was overqualified. In her post, she shared how she hides her identity as a Tamil person by leaving off her last name so potential employers might consider her resume. She asked social media, “What am I doing wrong?” as she cried while speaking about her struggles.
Her post reminded me of a workshop I attended recently about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The facilitator talked about “oppression trauma,” which means that due to generational oppression — either from ethnic communities or external forces such as government or country-based oppression — people carry the trauma of that oppression. This trauma can affect future generations, causing them to feel ashamed or embarrassed of their cultural identity. As a result, some people hide where they come from, what they eat, and the languages they speak. And some people change or shorten their names to English or the names of the major culture of their country.
The facilitator also mentioned that this trauma could be treated with therapy. Reflecting on this, I thought about the girl’s situation. Why would hiding your identity help you land a job? Yes, discrimination does exist in some workplaces, but not all organizations or recruiters are discriminatory.
In fact, organizations are strategically moving towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These efforts aim to foster more inclusive environments where individuals from diverse backgrounds are valued and their unique perspectives are seen as assets.
I wanted to reach out to this girl — she was about the same age as my daughter — and share with her that my daughter landed her first job because of her involvement in the community and her ability to speak both English and Tamil professionally. My daughter proudly identifies as Tamil, and that helped her secure a job where the position required someone who understood both cultures and languages.
Hiding your identity won’t necessarily help you land a job. Being authentic and proudly embracing who you are can open the right doors for you. Chin up! Own yourself!