Considering the Social Identity Theory (SIT), which posits that a person's emotions, cognitions and behaviors are influenced by the identity of a group or a culture and belonging to it, all these stereotypes have become internalized on a personal level by employees in various work environments.
Unconsciously, we often adopt jokes about our own lives, perpetuating a toxic pattern of self-relationship. As a result, as employees, we can be significantly affected in essential aspects of our mental health, such as self-esteem, self-recognition of our value, or the sense of satisfaction derived from work.
To combat such discriminations, studies have shown that our initial expectations and beliefs about the existence of prejudices in society determine our ability to recognize moments when we are stigmatized. Therefore, raising awareness of stereotypes is crucial for self-care and:
One frequently stigmatized group in the current labor market is corporate employees. Beyond the serious issues of workplace discrimination, there's a social level of stereotyping various professions[1]. This is particularly relevant when we consider how these stereotypes affect the individuals involved.
The way we perpetuate prejudices has effects on both social and individual levels. Often, we mistakenly think that expressing our prejudices is a sign of authenticity, but true authenticity should not be confused with stereotyping[2]. On a social level, jokes about people working in corporations have been widely accepted and spread, especially with the rise of memes that highlight a grim reality.
We observe how corporate job stereotypes have been internalized personally by individuals in this environment. They adopt online jokes about their own lives, revealing a toxic pattern of self-relation. This affects their job satisfaction, self-esteem, and recognition of their value, placing them in a situation where their personal identity is compromised. Discrimination doesn't always manifest directly through overt references to the workplace; it can be perpetuated through subtleties, jokes, and a generally dismissive attitude.[3]
Such self-perceptions can be corrected through therapy, which helps us understand how crucial it is to evaluate our performance accurately and the role it plays in the broader narrative of our lives. We will further analyze three main myths about corporate employees and how perpetuating these myths significantly impacts individuals' psycho-emotional well-being, along with ways to combat them.
The Myth:
Corporate employees are often viewed as proponents of capitalist values and the dynamics of exploitation. A common myth is that individuals align their beliefs with the values promoted by their company. For example, it is assumed that someone working for a large soft drink company must favor that brand, carrying the company's 'sins' in the eyes of others.
Social and Personal Impact:
Socially, we need to question whether we view corporate employees as individuals or as abstractions to simplify our understanding of the world. Is it realistic to find a homogeneous group with uniform characteristics? When facing this prejudice, we risk wondering if it's desirable to work in a corporation, fearing social repercussions and being labeled as impostors or unoriginal thinkers.
Dispelling the Myth:
We should not confuse individuals working in a corporate environment with the environment itself. Like any other work sector, the corporate world has its advantages and disadvantages. A corporate employee experiences the same exploitation repercussions as any other individual, and their personal values should not be equated with those of their employer. A person working in a corporation might engage in volunteer work, advocate for minority rights, or donate to humanitarian causes in their free time. Perpetuating the myth equating corporate employees with their corporations deepens social divides and immobilizes individuals socially.
The Myth:
The corporate job is seen as a spiritual failure, intellectual complacency, and political stagnation—a compromise or resignation from one's potential. This stereotype reflects the belief that corporate employees are intellectually and creatively stunted, adhering to capitalist values without contributing meaningfully to society.
Social and Personal Impact:
Socially, this view creates a divide, portraying "us" as those striving for meaningful existence and "them" as those performing robotic work. It perpetuates the idea that corporate employees cannot be politically active, socially engaged, or fight for change. Individually, this leads to fear of starting new ventures, taking risks, or following passions due to fear of judgment.
Dispelling the Myth:
The current job can be a temporary stop in the journey of life, which doesn't require knowing the final destination from the start. This belief places undue pressure on us, as if we must be born knowledgeable. Instead, we should see work as both a means and an end. Life's circumstances can prompt changes in our field of activity, the desire to reinvent ourselves professionally, or the need for temporary compromises. Corporate employees are individuals navigating their paths, driven by financial stability, curiosity, or the pursuit of their primary, cherished activities within the corporate environment.
The Myth:
Corporate employees are perceived as lacking social skills, only able to talk about work in a specific jargon. It is believed they have no hobbies and cannot converse with people outside their work environment.
Social and Personal Impact:
Socially, this stereotype labels corporate individuals as poor conversationalists, perpetuating the divide and lack of social solidarity. It’s easier to believe there’s no common ground with those outside our professional sphere than to make the effort to understand diverse opinions and values. This internalization leads to social self-exclusion, loss of confidence, fear of social engagement, and difficulty forming new collaborative or friendly relationships.
Dispelling the Myth:
Despite the stereotype, most corporate employees develop social skills as a necessity for teamwork, which fosters collaboration, strategic thinking, empathy, frustration tolerance, healthy boundaries, and continuous exposure to others' opinions and suggestions.
Stereotypes shame us, make us feel guilty, devalue us, and cause us to miss out on healthy, productive interactions. The stigma attached to certain work sectors creates social divides and hampers our solidarity, empathy, and respect for each other's human dignity. Given this discussion, the question remains: what can we do about the "corporate" label on both individual and social levels?
As corporate employees, we should question how much we’ve internalized these prejudices, how they affect our self-perception, and what strategies we can adopt to combat them. It’s important to maintain a healthy relationship with our jobs, seeing them as significant and relevant parts of our identity, but not dominant ones. Navigating these complexities is best done with professional guidance from a therapist, who can help us explore self-knowledge, discover what brings us happiness, and guide us in our career orientation. Fighting stereotypes is just the first step towards a fulfilling life.
Socially, it’s vital to combat the stigma attached to groups so that societal perceptions and stereotypes do not hinder us from making decisions for our happiness. Regarding corporate work, we should abandon the idea that corporate employees embody capitalism, unquestioned exploitation, or submission to a system they no longer resist. To effect change and fight for political and social ideals, one of the first requirements is security—ensuring basic needs and financial stability.
By condemning and perpetuating stereotypes about a group of people, we fail to see them as individuals and recognize their shared humanity. This perpetuation can also manifest in corporate policies aimed at educating people in a certain direction[4]. Continuous education, critical thinking, and active engagement in personal development—immediate benefits of therapy—significantly contribute to freeing ourselves from preconceived ideas about work, fields of activity, and social dynamics in general.
[1] See: Linda L Magnusson Hanson, Jaana Pentti, Mads Nordentoft, Tianwei Xu, Reiner Rugulies, Ida E H Madsen, Paul Maurice Conway, Hugo Westerlund, Jussi Vahtera, Jenni Ervasti, G David Batty, Mika Kivimäki (2023). Association of workplace violence and bullying with later suicide risk: a multicohort study and meta-analysis of published data. The Lancet Public Health. 8: e494–503
[2] White, M. H., & Crandall, C. S. (2023). Perceived authenticity as a vicarious justification for prejudice. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 26(3), 534-554.
[3] Take the example of the LGBTQIA+ community, which is indirectly discriminated against in the workplace: Di Marco, D., Hoel, H., Arenas, A., & Munduate, L. (2018). Workplace Incivility as Modern Sexual Prejudice. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(12), 1978-2004.
[4] For example, in the attempt to create health-focused programs within corporations in the United States, overweight individuals have ended up being massively discriminated against, being considered outside the proposed standard. See: Powroznik, K. M. (2017). Healthism and Weight-Based Discrimination: The Unintended Consequences of Health Promotion in the Workplace. Work and Occupations, 44(2), 139-170.
