Came across the term ‘performative wokery’ the other day (not a new expression, but it’s the first time I’d seen it).
It’s been defined as supporting social justice causes just to further your own agenda rather than supporting those causes because you actually believe in them and want to help others. (It seems to be a bit like virtue signalling).
AIBU to think that sometimes it’s difficult to actually be sure if people are supporting social causes because they want to help others or if they’re doing it just because they want to come across as good people?
Sorry if this seems very cynical. I’ve just been thinking of it a lot lately as we’ve had a lot of diversity and inclusion workshops and talks at work recently. These have all been very worthwhile, and I’ve been involved in organising/leading some and attending others that other colleagues have led.
I just worry that other colleagues either see me as someone being ‘performatively woke’. What can I do to change this? I don’t go around telling other colleagues I’m brilliant because I’m involved in the workshops, but obviously promote the workshops and topics, and I worry that colleagues think I’m being performatively woke. Maybe I’m just overthinking.