Does anyone feel they have been looked over/discriminated/judged by their accent? (interviewed, employer)

[Trimac20]

I've heard this as one reason why somebody might want to change their accent. There remains a stigma, for some people, towards certain regional accents or dialects that have negative connotations. For instance, an urban working class New York or Philly accent, or an Upper South rural 'Hillbilly' accent. I'm sure this is also applicable to American Americans who use 'ebonics' or those who speak with some type of foreign accents.

Has anyone with a strong accent really felt it work against them when getting a job (getting interviewed etc), trying to compete against colleagues for promotions.etc? Did you find your employer or colleagues made unfair judgements about you, perhaps before they got to know you?

Do any of you 'switch' to a more 'neutral' accent when dealing with associates or during important meetings, or presentations, or at least tone it down?

Are people becoming more accepting of accents, and realising that having a strong accent does not make anyone less intelligent?

[nimchimpsky]

Yes. When I was living in the South, the fact that I didn't have a Southern accent automatically put me in the "d@mn yankee" category.

[dubyanumberone]

Sorry, but if you talk "hillbilly" or "ebonics" to me in a business setting I'm going to view you with less respect.

There is a right way and a wrong way to speak in a business setting. "Axeing a question" or calling yourself "Bubba" is the wrong way, period, end of story.