Organizational practices leading to closeting: the interactional construction of ‘closets’

ABSTRACT

Goffman’s [1978. The presentation of self in everyday life. Harmondsworth] concept of ‘negative face’ recognizes people’s desire to be free from constraint. Freedom in expressing one’s identity, however, often gets threatened when that identity is marginalized. Using Brown and Levinson’s [1987. Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge University Press] framework, this paper examines negative face threats among employees who identify within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer spectrum (LGBTQ+). It asks how negative face threats play a role in ‘closeting’ their sexual and/or gender identity at work. Thematic analysis of data from 35 semi-structured interviews, representing myriad forms of self-identification among the LGBTQ+ community, produced two general themes: direct messages from co-workers prompting closeting, and more general social norms evident in co-worker communication and interactions. This study explores important interactional cues from co-workers that participants see as constraining a non-heterosexual and/or non-cis-gender identity. Implications for theory involving increased focus on negative face and practical applications involving cultivating workplace climate, ally support, and heightened sensitivity beyond the workplace are examined.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).