Up North

Code Switching: I ran across this term in the book I am reading about a church.
“Have you ever found yourself adjusting the way you talk or behave when transitioning from one environment to another? Perhaps you shift from casual banter with friends to adopting a more formal tone in professional settings. Many refer to this chameleon effect as code-switching, a strategy that people use to alter their self-presentation in different contexts and situations. Often, the way people adjust how they present themselves is driven by societal expectations and norms. To align with the norms of different contexts, people may switch out of various identities, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, socioeconomic status, and disability status.”

I wondered as I read about Bethany Steward in Circle of Hope, a book by Eliza Griswold, if I was ‘guilty’ of altering my own thoughts and words in certain situations. “Yes, I do,” was my response. Can I help it? Can I be more conscious of it?

I think we use this behavior to “fit in” and feel included although it isn’t always authentic. I am most authentic with my family and my trusted friends.
How about you?

Are you “wild and crazy” at parties but demure, quiet, and no-nonsense at work or when talking to your kids?
Do you switch dialects depending on who you are with?
Can/do you hide or cover up your accent, gender or race to blend in more comfortably at church, work, in public?
Do you feel authentic when you do?

I felt very challenged when I read about Switching Codes. I will have to think more about it.