The world is full of people who are undergoing various stages of personal and professional growth. People are constantly trying to better themselves both inside and outside their job descriptions. In any given profession, some individuals may find it more difficult than others to succeed due to factors such as gender, ethnicity, disability, age, religion, or education level. These differences may result in persistent marginalization at workplaces, which negatively impact one's professional development and mental wellbeing.
Marginalization occurs when an individual is treated as less significant than others around them based on certain aspects that make them different from the majority.
A woman worker in a male-dominated field may be paid less than her male counterparts, or someone from a minority background may face difficulty finding employment due to racial discrimination. When this happens consistently, it can lead to emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and even suicidal thoughts.
Professional development involves gaining knowledge, skills, experience, and competencies required for success in your career path. It also entails growing in confidence and adapting to new challenges that come along the way. Persistent marginalization at workplaces can hamper these efforts by limiting access to resources and opportunities for learning and improvement. This lack of growth leads to stagnation, causing frustration and disengagement in employees leading to increased turnover rates.
Marginalized workers may feel excluded from important meetings, denied promotions, and passed over for assignments that could enhance their performance. This impacts morale and ultimately productivity within the organization.
The emotional functioning of individuals who experience consistent marginalization is affected significantly since they often struggle with feelings of worthlessness, guilt, hopelessness, and anger. The constant rejection experienced daily by such people can cause severe emotional stress resulting in loss of sleep, difficulty concentrating, and high levels of irritability. In extreme cases, marginalized employees may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health issues.
Persistent workplace marginalization has profound consequences on both professional development and emotional functioning simultaneously. Marginalized employees have limited chances of advancing professionally due to systemic barriers while struggling emotionally as a result of discrimination. Organizations should be vigilant in preventing any form of discrimination against certain groups to create an inclusive environment conducive to productivity and wellbeing for all employees.
How does persistent workplace marginalization affect professional development and emotional functioning simultaneously?
Professional development and emotional functioning are essential components of individual success and wellbeing at the workplace. Marginalization can be defined as the process where individuals or groups with less privilege experience exclusion, oppression, and discrimination by those who have more power and influence (Banks, 2016).