Managing hypervisibility: An exploration of theory and research on identity shifting strategies in the workplace among Black women

Black women who are tokenized in the workplace experience race and gender-based discrimination and thus, may shift their identities to mitigate the negative outcomes associated with discrimination. Identity shifting is the conscious or unconscious process of shifting one's language, and/or cultural behaviors. In this conceptual paper, we briefly examine three major identity shifting theories - identity negotiation theory, cultural contract paradigm, and the phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory - summarizing the tenets and applications of these models and highlighting the ways in which intersecting identities can shape Black women's experiences in the workplace. Building upon previous research, we also offer recommendations for further development of identity shifting theories that integrate how the intersection of multiple identities (e.g., race and gender), respectability politics, tokenism, and racialized gendered socialization can influence motivations and pressures to engage in identity shifting in the workplace. Finally, recommendations are provided for managers and employers seeking to foster an inclusive workplace, and for researchers and theorists wanting to further the understanding of the complexities of identity shifting among individuals with multiple stigmatized identities.