Why 82% of American Women ‘Code-Switch’ at Work
In breakrooms and boardrooms across America, women are consciously changing how they talk. A new survey reveals that 82% of working women shift their speaking style when they’re on the clock—a phenomenon linguists call code-switching. This widespread practice spans all industries and job levels, illuminating how women navigate professional environments through their language choices.
The Work Voice Phenomenon
Despite workplace equality efforts across companies nationwide, many women still feel pressure to present themselves differently to be taken seriously.
The survey, conducted by language platform Preply, maps out exactly what changes when women enter their workplace. Most notably, women report using more casual language in their personal lives: slang (56%), sarcasm (55%), and profanity (53%)—communication styles they deliberately minimize at work.
“These are aspects of a more informal style. We tend to use slang, sarcasm, and profanity in less formal settings, so it is not a surprise that these are used less in the workplace by women,” explains Melissa Baerse Berk, Associate Linguistics Professor at the University of Chicago. “It may also be the case that women feel as though they need to be extra-formal in the workplace to be respected by their peers.”
The Hidden Costs of Code-Switching
The adjustments extend beyond vocabulary. About 48% of women use more humor outside work, 42% include more filler words like “um” and “like,” and 39% laugh more freely. Over a third use more hedging phrases such as “sort of” and “kind of” when not at work.
The primary motivation for these changes? Appearing more professional (76%). Other common reasons include expressing competence (37%), projecting confidence (35%), and fitting in (22%).
More concerning motivations also emerged: 20% code-switch to mask emotions, 15% from fear of judgment, and 13% from fear of stereotyping. For a third of women, using their “work voice” instead of their natural one feels inauthentic, and one in four find this linguistic balancing act emotionally draining.
Industry Variations and Power Dynamics
Women in higher company positions code-switch less frequently, revealing that advancement may bring greater freedom to communicate authentically, or that authentic communication helps women advance.
Industry patterns show significant variation:
- Hospitality and tourism: 94% code-switch
- Food services: 93%
- Professional services: 89%
- Retail: 88%
- Real estate: 84%
By contrast, women in construction (70%) and nonprofit (76%) fields show lower rates, though percentages remain high across all sectors.
The research also found that one in six women have been explicitly told to change their communication style at work, while nearly two-thirds feel pressured to use a “work voice.”
Stopping the Code-Switch
Code-switching, while sometimes a useful social adaptation, can come with significant personal costs for women when driven by fear or external pressure rather than personal choice.
Professor Baerse Berk offers this perspective: “I’m not sure the answer is to have women communicate more assertively if that doesn’t feel natural to them. Instead, we can recognize that all styles of communication are okay as long as the message is being transmitted.”
While some professional contexts may always require more formal language, workplace cultures could evolve to embrace more authentic communication styles. The data highlights an opportunity for companies to create environments where employees don’t feel they must suppress their natural speaking patterns.
“I think recognizing that everyone has different preferences in terms of communication is important,” Baerse Berk adds.