A survey indicates that over half of British workers have had their accents mocked, criticized, or pointed out in a social context.
Researchers discovered that 46% of employees have been subjected to jibes about their accents, with 25% reporting workplace jokes.
The survey indicated that an ingrained “hierarchy of accents” created social anxiety throughout the lives of some individuals.
They reported that persons with northern English or Midlands accents were more prone to be self-conscious about their speech.
The research, conducted by Professor Devyani Sharma of Queen Mary University London and financed by the Sutton Trust, found that many of those who were ridiculed for the way they spoke expressed fear over their future employment prospects due to perceived discriminatory attitudes.
35% of college students reported feeling self-conscious about their accents.
Another 30% of student respondents indicated they have been ridiculed, criticized, or singled out for their manner of speech. This was particularly prevalent among students from northern England.
And 31% of college students expressed concern that their accents could negatively affect their employment in the future.
The research notes that this suggests “some effort in workplaces, but less in education, to address the risk of accent-based prejudice.”
Academics from the Accent Bias in Britain project discovered that sentiments regarding accents have remained fairly unaltered over time, with respondents admitting to having a more favorable assessment of the classic Received Pronunciation (RP) sound.
They implied that I ought to be a waitress
Ben Jones, a teacher from Stockport who attended Oxford and Durham universities, tells BBC Radio 5 Live that he encountered bias from his peers and professors.
“I recall in my first year attending a study group where, in traditional Oxford fashion, wine was served while we were reading. The instructor recommended I should be a server because I am from the north and have experience distributing wine at gatherings.”
Chris Lumley from Yorkshire believes the survey understated the jibes problem. “Throughout my career, I have been ridiculed for my accent and speech. In addition, many clichéd jokes about the Yorkshireman’s financial conservatism “.
Others, however, claim that their accent has been an asset. Marcus Bentley, the voice of the reality television show Big Brother, has a well-known Geordie accent and claims he was hired due to it.
“Channel 4 enjoyed the way I said ‘chickens,'” he recalls, “but that’s an absurd way to acquire a job.”
He admits to having an “aversion” to “very posh voices,” stating that this demonstrates that everyone is “a little bit biased.”
Jessie Aru-Phillips, a broadcaster, and producer from Liverpool, claims that her accent sets her unique from everyone else.
“I’ve been ridiculed a lot in my career,” she says, adding that she “gives back what she gets.”
From my perspective, it was advantageous that others consistently underestimated me.
And Labour MP Jess Phillips says, “one of the things we must be able to do is interact with others, and I consider my accent to be my best asset.”
In contrast, “often categorized as ‘working-class accents'” accents such as those from Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham, as well as Afro-Caribbean and Indian accents, ranked lower.
As a result, senior managers from working-class origins were far more likely to be concerned that their accents could impede their career advancement, with 29% expressing such concerns compared to 22% from a “better off the background.
The researchers stated, “It is common for individuals to have stereotypical associations with accents.” However, if left unchecked, these biases and stereotypes can be used to criticize an individual’s autonomous skills and abilities, resulting in discriminatory behavior.
511 university applicants (mostly 17-18-year-olds) and 1,029 university students, 1,014 early-career professionals, and 1,002 later-career professionals were questioned for the study.
Sir Peter Lampl, founder, and chairman of the Sutton Trust, stated in response to the findings that it is “disgraceful” that people are mocked, criticized, or singled out for the way they speak.
Sir Peter further cautioned that the preponderance of RP English “as the prevailing accent of individuals in positions of authority” posed the danger of establishing a “ladder of dialect prestige” in the United Kingdom.
