“Covering” refers to the ways in which an individual conceals certain aspects of their identity in public due to a fear of backlash, discrimination, and/or bias. Those who cover are ultimately prevented from expressing their authentic selves in a variety of contexts. In the context of a work environment, covering can not only harm the individual but also hinder an organization’s ability to create an authentic culture of inclusion.

In this podcast, MBA Student Fellow Narjis Premjee interviews individuals who have covered or uncovered certain aspects of their identity in the workplace, such as their religion, ethnicity, marital status, disabilities, and sexual orientation.

Full transcript of this episode.

This podcast was supported by the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) as part of the MBA Student Fellows program, which seeks to engage students in advancing the agenda on gender equality. Find out more here. 

This podcast was edited by Victoria Heath, Mohammad Taqi Premjee and Narjis Premjee. A special thanks to Sarah Kaplan, Victoria Heath, Alyson Colón, Bonnie Lam and all interviewees that took part in this podcast.

*Disclaimer: This podcast series was prepared by Narjis Premjee, and the opinions expressed in this series are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute for Gender and the Economy or the University of Toronto.