Out of Sight, in the Crossfire: Evolving Challenges for Managing Stigmatized Invisible Identities in Uncertain and Polarized Times

Abstract

Twenty years after the publication of Out of Sight but Not Out of Mind: Managing Invisible Social Identities in the Workplace (Clair et al., 2005), lead author Judy Clair, with new co-author Angela Ianniello, revisit the disclosure dilemmas faced by employees with stigmatized invisible identities. While the original paper highlights the tension people face between authenticity and the risk of discrimination, new complexities are introduced in today’s increasingly polarized climate. Namely, the authors highlight how employees must now navigate an environment marked by both heightened celebration and acceptance of their identities while also making sense of backlash against access and inclusion efforts and the undoing of newly gained protections. This paper then calls on researchers to extend existing research on stigmatized invisible identities by (1) continuing to advance evidence-based research, (2) considering disclosure decisions in polarized environments, (3) exploring a more diverse range of perspectives, including those from dominant groups, and (4) staying alert to politically motivated efforts to discredit research on access and inclusion, while remaining receptive to constructive criticism.