In the 2004 cult hit “Mean Girls,” Plastics member Karen Smith is frequently demeaned for her lack of intelligence.
It’s funny in the film, but nobody wants to be treated this way in real life — especially at work.
In most instances, if you feel like you’ve been assigned the role of the resident office fool, there’s probably a simple explanation.
- You’re behaving in a way that makes people think you’re stupid.
- Your coworkers are jerks.
- Both of the above.
Before you can begin to figure out what the issue even is, you first must determine whether or not your colleagues are actually behaving in a condescending manner.
Here are some clear signs that your colleagues do think you’re dumb:
SEE ALSO: 17 signs your coworkers secretly hate you
1. They always argue with you
Some people just love to pick fights. But, if you feel like you’re constantly getting piled on by multiple coworkers over minor things, then that’s a bad sign. They might be squabbling because they see you as an easy target — someone they can put down to prove their own intelligence.
However, keep in mind that it’s important to differentiate between rude, mean, and bullying behavior — aggressive arguments should only be considered truly problematic if they’re repeated over time and involves an imbalance of power, Signe Whitson wrote for Psychology Today.
2. They’re terse and sarcastic
Don’t you hate getting texts that just say “k”? The conversational equivalent of that may be a sign that your colleagues underestimate your intelligence.
If their responses tend to be short and blunt with a side of sarcasm, then they probably don’t value your insight very much.
3. Their body language is rude
Sneering. Glaring. Staring. Smirking. Eye rolling.
If you notice this contemptuous body language in your coworkers, then that pretty much confirms that you’re the target of workplace mockery.