Career Advice
OOPS?
Things NEVER to Say to…
Asian Coworkers
BY KEVIN CANESSA JR.
LGBT Coworkers
BY DARYL C. HANNAH
Recently, Texas lawmaker Betty Brown
suggested during a voter-identification
hearing that it might be wise for Chinese
Americans to “Americanize” their names
for the sake of people who don’t speak
Chinese. Brown’s comment, which landed
her in the DiversityInc Hall of Shame, is
just one of several rude phrases people
say to Asian Americans.
For most, coming out at work is not an easy
task. You can’t be sure how your company
or peers will respond to your revelation. And
despite recent reports that the workplace is
growing increasingly accepting to LGBT
employees, people often don’t know how
to welcome a colleague who recently
came out of the closet.
Here are several things you should
NEVER say to your LGBT colleagues:
DiversityInc
celebrates Asian
Pacific Islander
American Heritage
Month and LGBT
Pride Month with
career advice.
“Can’t you ‘Americanize’ your
name?”
Not only did Brown suggest to an Asian American that “your citizens” change their names, she
said it would be unfair for “us” to have to learn
Chinese to better understand surnames. Michael
Yaki, a political consultant and attorney in San
Francisco, wrote on SFGate.com that Brown’s
comments were not only inappropriate, they were
factually incorrect. He says, “Last I checked, one
of the most common Chinese surnames was still
Wong. And Chin. And Lee. One syllable. I guess
I’m a bit confused as to how these names are ‘
difficult’ for voter officials in Texas to figure out.”
“I suspected you were gay.”
Although this is a common response, it is
insensitive and it plays into stereotypes.
“I’m sorry.”
Why apologize for a colleague’s orientation? This
implies judgment and can make the situation
more difficult. Would you apologize for a person’s
ethnicity or gender?
“If war broke out between your native
country and America, which side would
you support?”
Dr. Jane Junn, associate professor of political
science at Rutgers University, who is Chinese
American, says her students have asked her the
same question.
“They’re interested in everything,” Junn says.
“And they may not be asking with malicious
intent. But they ask nonetheless. For Asian
Americans who are not first generation, this can
be extremely insulting.”
“Why did you tell me that?”
It’s important for people to bring their “whole
selves” to work, and coming out is a part of
who one is. “The notion of leaving a big part of
your self at home and walking into work is like
walking around with two types of shoes on,” says
Selisse Berry, executive director of Out & Equal,
an advocacy organization that provides services
to companies, human-resource professionals,
employee-resource groups and individuals.
“Which bathroom do you use?”
Transgender people often are asked what gender
they are. Such questions are inappropriate, warns
Out & Equal. It is important to remember that
gender identity is a sensitive subject.
For more on this story, visit:
www.DiversityInc.com/nottosaytoasians
For more on this story, visit:
www.DiversityInc.com/nottosaytolgbts
