The Privilege of Professional Networking

Networking events as we know them are dying, and I am here for it.

Networking is a great way to get access to jobs, people, and information. But not all professional networks are created equal. How robust and relevant your professional network is, often correlates to the amount of privilege in society you hold.

Suggesting someone attend networking events to build their professional creditability can be fraught when you factor in the following;

1. White People have white social networks: 75% of white people have an entirely white social network. That fact alone is troubling, but when you factor in that 7 out of 10 senior leaders are white men, it feels downright impossible for people from marginalized groups, especially women to make connections with those in power.
2. Networking events are often held after work: For working parents, after-work networking events are usually a non-starter. This is particularly true for mothers who often absorb the majority of caregiving duties. Single parents, primary caregivers and those with limited access to affordable childcare often cannot attend evening/weekend events.
3. The stigma of “handouts”: For white men, utilizing your social network is seen as admirable, useful and necessary. However, there is a social stigma for women and people of color when it comes to utilizing anything other than your skills to get a leg up on the competition. When people from marginalized groups utilize their network, it can be seen as using sexuality or a quota system to gain your place, regardless of how skilled you are.
4. Networking events are based on affluent, white, and predominantly male culture: Networking events are steeped in white, wealthy or male cultural norms. Our idea of what is considered “professional” is deeply rooted in white male culture. What we think of as a “professional event” is also steeped in that culture. This means there is usually light food, alcohol, formality, no children, etc. etc.

There is a reason to hope that the future of networking events will be more inclusive. Social media such as LinkedIn and Meetup groups are changing not only networking itself but how, when and where networking events are held. But the most authentic way to create more inclusive networking events is to ask people from marginalized communities what they need and want out of those events, and do that.

What networking events are you seeing that are more inclusive?