Most of us give a short version of ourselves at work. It is tidy and agreeable, with the awkward bits taken out.
For people from minority backgrounds the edit is often larger. Some details are left out to avoid questions. Others are explained so often that they stop feeling like ours.
None of this is dishonest. It is a reasonable response to a setting where being understood takes effort.
A little less editing
Many people find that over time they edit less, usually once they feel secure and once they have found colleagues who are curious rather than surprised.
The question is not whether we edit, but who the editing is for.
Elikia Editorial
Organisations can help by making curiosity normal and by not asking anyone to be a spokesperson for a whole community.
