Hiding in Plain Sight. Code-switching Essay Sample

One day, I decided to go shopping at a more expensive mall with my mom. When we arrived, many wealthy and prosperous people were walking around and buying many items. While peering through the glass window, I noticed a beautiful purse inside, so I decided to head into the store to get a closer look. As soon as my mom and I reached the display, a store clerk appeared behind us and said, “If you are looking for a clearance section, we do not have one, but the shop next door does!” I was immediately appalled that she was assuming that we were poor. Although I wanted to talk back and reply to her rude comment, I knew that it would cause my mom and me more problems, so I acted nicely and just replied saying that the purse in front of us was beautiful and we wanted to purchase it. The white lady just gave us a look of disdain and just rung up the item for us. This type of scenario is only one of many that I have experienced throughout my life. When others look at me, they see a brown-skinned girl that looks and acts different than them, so they make preconceived notions about me. Trying to fit into society as a person of color is challenging and one way, I overcome the stares and stereotypes, is by code-switching. 

Code-switching is a term used when a person speaks and acts differently among their peers versus others. Usually, it is divided into two categories: language-based and culture-based (Washington-Harmon). It is more common for races of color to utilize this technique when speaking with others. For example, a black person will speak one type of language at home while speaking differently when going out. The purpose of code-switching is to adapt and fit in with the norms. When I speak like white people do, with an American accent and mannerisms, I am bound to be more accepted within society. On the other hand, if I speak with my Indian accent and mannerisms, I will be less accepted and sometimes ignored. I have experienced this with my parents, especially my mom because she has an Indian accent. This type of treatment affects a lot of races that are minorities because they are trying to fit in with the dominant race in that area.

A common method of code-switching is speaking normally with your natural mannerisms at home among family and then switching to a different style of speaking with outsiders. For example, in the article Mother Tongue, Amy Tan states how she spoke broken English just like her mother while conversing with her mom. She noticed herself saying “not waste money that way” instead of speaking normally with her fluent English (Tan). This difference in the way she spoke with her mother, versus how she speaks with her peers is a prominent example of code-switching. I have experienced this exact scenario with my mom because she does not speak proper English. I speak fluent English with outsiders but sometimes with my mom, I mix English words and my mother tongue, and speak with an Indian accent. This creates a mixed language that is understandable only to my family. I have also noticed that I use more hand gestures to help describe many English words to my mom. This is useful when I am trying to speak with only my mom without others hearing but I try to tone it down when I am outside. When one speaks or acts differently than “normal”, they are bound to be less accepted and looked down upon. Many times, code-switching happens naturally, and most people do not realize that they are doing it.

Not only does code-switching apply to language, but it can also apply to the way you dress, physical mannerisms, and other cultural elements. I had not thought of these techniques before since I was focusing on the language part of it. It makes sense to me because I would be less accepted if I wore my culture’s traditional clothing instead of the western clothing, I wear every day. An interesting quote that I read in an article about physical appearances in code-switching was that “Black women feel that their natural, unprocessed hairstyles are still professional, but white women feel the opposite” (Washington-Harmon). What the author of the article is talking about here, is how even hairstyles, the smallest of things, can affect the way others interact with you. Even though black women feel comfortable and love to embrace their curly hair, because white women do not accept it, they are forced to change their appearance to fit in the workplace. This is very true with all people of color such as Muslims, Indians, Spanish, and many more. A shocking fact states that “Black women are 80% more likely to change their natural hair to meet societal norms for work” (Washington-Harmon). That is a very high percentage, which it should not be. 

I have undergone a similar situation when I was in elementary school. Back then, my mother used to do my hair before going to school. A common hairstyle for girls in India is to make two braids and loop them upwards to create two hoops. My mother used to give me this hairstyle every morning before school but multiple times I was made fun of because my hairstyle was different from everyone else. Many kids called my hair “weird” and “ugly” which led me to take out my braids every day. In the end, I complained to my mom to not give me this hairstyle anymore and although she told me to ignore the bullies, she changed my hair to more common styles that other kids had. If I had listened to her, I would have probably been continued to be bullied until my appearance changed. Constantly thinking about the way, you look and how to feel more “normal” around others, can affect people not only physically but also mentally. It can affect their self-esteem and cause them to feel insecure and have anxiety. I have felt insecure about my appearance, my body, or the way I speak around others many times. Sometimes it makes me not want to go out and interact with others. Having to change the way you are just to fit in, is completely unreasonable and should not be normal in society. It is unfair to many races and extremely racist as well. Society should be accepting of who you are and what you do, no matter what race you are. 

In the end, code-switching has become a natural technique that many people utilize. It comes in many forms: changing your language, dressing up differently, putting your hair up a certain way, or even participating in certain cultural events. It is a method to hide amidst “normal” people and not be judged by others. Even though it is a method that has become very common, it is not right. We should not have to change the way we are just to be accepted, among others. We should be able to speak, dress and love our cultures without judgment. If every person starts to become a little more accepting of another, the world can slowly grow to a better and more diverse place.