YOU CAN’T SEE ME
Double standards are everywhere.
We all know that expectations for women vs. men are absurd.
Double standards get even more ridiculous for women of color. But let’s be honest. In the spectrum across women of color, Black women have always faced the most significant challenges.
Can we talk about sports real quick?
ICYMI, during the NCAA women’s finals, LSU’s Angel Reese, a Black female star player, made the “You Can’t See Me” hand gesture toward Caitlin Clarke, a white player for Iowa, the opposing team.
John Cena popularized the gesture to mean, “I'm so good, strong, and fast that you can't even keep up with me; you can't see me.”
Not surprisingly, Angel was quickly criticized for being “classless,” “disrespectful,” and “unsportsmanlike,” amongst other things. Also, to no one’s surprise, Caitlin Clarke, the white player from Iowa, made the SAME hand gesture earlier in the tournament and was praised for having swagger. Btw, good for Caitlin to defend Angel and the spirit of the sport. WOMEN BACKING WOMEN.
The gesture is a way of talking smack, which is standard in basketball. MEN DO THIS ON THE COURT ALL THE TIME. It’s entertaining and considered almost an art form.
And because the moment was nationally televised, it’s received a lot of coverage and has bubbled up the topic of double standards for Black women in sports.
The same double standard BS in workplaces will never get public coverage like this, so we can thank Angel Reese for helping ignite a larger conversation.
Some typical workplace double standards:
Black women are often seen as “aggressive” or “confrontational” for speaking up or advocating for themselves. Meanwhile, white colleagues who behave similarly are seen as assertive or confident.
Asian women are often stereotyped as submissive, leading to them being overlooked for leadership roles or not being taken seriously. On the other hand, Asian women who speak up or challenge ideas are often typecasted as “not approachable.”
Latinas may face double standards around language, being judged for not speaking "perfect" English or told to "tone down" their accent to fit in. They can also face pressure to conform to traditional gender roles, like prioritizing family responsibilities vs. career.
Women, in general, are expected to be nurturing and empathetic, and when they advocate for their self-worth, they’re seen as self-important, while men are self-assured.
The list goes on.
So, what do we do about it all?
Employers must recognize and acknowledge that double standards are still PERVASIVE and commit to addressing them. Leaders must advocate for DE&I efforts not to be cut.
Continue to break stereotypes. Speak up when you’re expected to stay quiet. Move to the front of the room when you’ve historically felt more comfortable in the back. And if a leader, employer, or board member feels a certain way about this, call them out. Have a conversation about it.
Be an active ally for other marginalized groups. Use any ounce of privilege you have (we have some) to call out double standards.
And this is exactly what Angel Reese, my new 20-year-old idol, is doing. Using her platform to speak up, call people out (including Jill Biden ), and be unapologetic about who she is and where she comes from.
"I don't fit the narrative. I don't fit the box that y'all want me to be in," she said. "I'm too hood. I'm too ghetto.' Y'all told me that all year. When other people do it, y'all don't say nothing. This was for the people that look like me."
What she did was incredible, and I hope this is the beginning of the YOU CAN’T SEE ME / I’M GOING TO CALL IT OUT movement.
What do you think about this whole situation? Comment below or DM me to share your thoughts.
