Code Switching Research Paper

Words: 1594
Pages: 7

The development and evolution of personal identity is a byproduct of external factors such as race, ethnicity, experiences, location, popular media, and many more. In American society, how Black women navigate and develop personal connections with identity is uniquely characterized by the intersection of race and gender-based oppression. As a result of this experience, many Black women have developed a coping strategy colloquially referred to as code switching. Code switching is any action that an individual takes to alter their natural speech, appearance, or behavior to fit into established societal norms or to put others at ease. Code switching has historically served as a method of navigating many social situations, from educational and corporate environments to …show more content…
In politics and media, we often see Black women conforming to Eurocentric ideas of beauty by straightening their hair. In education and science, we see Black women repressing emotional responses to avoid being viewed as emotional or irrational. In all cases and environments Black women feel required to erase their own blackness to be viewed as a token “good Black person” through assimilation to receive opportunities, be taken seriously, or even just protect themselves. While it takes many forms, code switching is both a physical and cognitive exercise that is practically a universal experience in the Black community. Code switching has a profound sociological impact on Black women and the Black community. Guynn asserts that “to some extent, code switching is a universal trait”, but for Black women it is considered to practically be an essential skill. For some, it’s an almost unconscious routine that’s as “familiar as breathing” (Guynn,