Mia Tanswell highlights accent bias in professional settings as new survey reveals 10% of Britons feel self-conscious about their speech.
Mia Tanswell, a 22-year-old student, noted that she often felt her northern accent sounded less intellectual than her peers during university seminars. Her experience reflects a broader trend identified in a recent survey of over 3,300 adults across England, Scotland, and Wales. The research found that one in 10 people feel anxious or self-conscious about their accents in high-stakes professional environments, such as business meetings. Regional accents like Geordie and Cockney were found to have the highest levels of anxiety, while West Country accents were the most likely to be mocked by colleagues. The survey also revealed that 5% of respondents believed their accent had directly cost them a promotion or pay rise. While some workers, including Lara Newman, have intentionally softened their accents to advance their careers, others like Martha Powell and Benjaimin Aidomoan express pride in their regional identities. Career experts suggest that while progress is being made, employers are increasingly prioritizing skills over polish, with many firms now striving to be more conscious of accent-related biases.