This summary is provided by the IPR Organizational Communication Research Center based on the original study.
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Dr. Rebecca J. Baumler and Dr. Cameron Piercy examined how perceived self-authenticity may impact trans workers’ identity communication in the workplace and subsequently affect their job and life satisfaction. Perceived self-authenticity refers to the degree to which trans workers perceive themselves as true to their selves and live in accordance with their own values, identities, and beliefs. Identity communication comes in three forms: explicit outness (being open to one’s trans identity), implicit outness (not directly labeling oneself as trans but engaging in advocacy for trans issues), and covering (distancing oneself from one’s trans identity).
An online survey of 206 trans adults who were employed (or had been in the past 2 years) was conducted in November 2022.
Key Findings
–When trans workers perceived themselves as more authentic (perceived self-authenticity), they were more likely to engage in overt communication sharing trans identity (explicit outness) and advocacy for trans issues (implicit outness) and they were less likely to distance themselves from trans identity in workplace communication (covering).
–Engaging in overt communication sharing trans identity (explicit outness) may boost trans workers’ job and life satisfaction.
–Engaging in advocacy for trans issues (implicit outness) may negatively affect trans workers’ life satisfaction.
–Distancing themselves from trans identity in workplace communication (covering) may diminish trans workers’ job satisfaction.
Implications for Practice
Organizations should take responsibility for creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive work environment that encourage trans individuals to disclose and discuss their identity and stay true to themselves. An organizational culture that welcomes and engages identities and perspectives that have been historically excluded from or stigmatized at the workplace is critical to enhance trans workers’ job and life satisfaction.
Read the original article here.
Authors:
Baumler, R. J., & Piercy, C. W. (2024). Crystallized trans identity: How authenticity and identity communication affect job and life satisfaction. Communication Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241234
