Tema Okun in her seminal article White Supremacy Culture outlines several ways in which organizations enact racial dynamics that may not seem overtly racial. These patterns most often function out of our awareness, which makes them powerful and pervasive. Perfectionism is at the top of the list.
Hiring managers often report relying on a felt sense of who will be the “perfect fit”, where candidates may otherwise be similarly qualified. This calculation is often the result of a lifetime of unconscious racial socialization, and is likely to be expressed in an organization which implicitly shares this cultural pattern, resulting in racial stratification and exclusion.
Where perfectionism is the norm, criticism is ubiquitous. Unreachable goals are set and managers freely let those who report to them know they are not meeting expectations. This communication style creates a fertile breeding ground for microaggressions, where criticisms are as likely to be received as racially hostile by those with marginalized identities as they are likely to be delivered with unconscious bias by those in power.
Okun suggests that for each of us and the organizations to which we belong, accepting imperfection as the human condition, and adopting a learning and growth based stance are foundational for overcoming perfectionism. Developing a culture of appreciation is a way to create a powerful shift. For many the biggest challenge is applying this stance to ourselves as we often note that we are our own worst critics!
With regards to racial justice, fear of making a mistake, committing a microagression, or exposing our unconscious biases often keeps us on the sidelines. In this way, perfectionism serves White supremacy culture, silencing potentially powerful allies. Accepting that we will err and recover, doing our best to mitigate the impact, and valuing feedback from BIPOC and White allies, are all ways to create a culture of justice and belonging.
Wishing each of us the courage to engage in imperfect action and learning as we travel the path of racial justice.
