Common Theme in Stories from Women of Color:

Resiliency and Self-CareDr. Marilyn Tyus

Dr. Shauna SobersDr. LaToya Smith

Dr. Hemlata Jhaveri

Women of Color will be the Majority of All Women by 2050

U.S. Census Bureau, “Table 10. Projections of the Population by Sex, Hispanic Origin, and Race for the United States: 2015 to 2060,” Population Projections (2014).

Percent of total women in US population (2015)

Percent of total women in US population (2050)

White (not Hispanic) 61.7% 47.5%

Hispanic or Latino 17.1% 25.8%

African-American 12.7% 13.1%

Asian 5.5% 8.7%

Between 2014–2024 the projected percentage increase in the labor force of women by race or ethnicity:

• 30.3% = Increase of Hispanic women in labor force

• 24.3% = Increase of Asian women in labor force

• 11.3% = Increase of African American women in labor force

• -2.1% = Decrease of white women in labor force

Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Table 3.4 Civilian Labor Force by Age, Sex, Race, and Ethnicity, 1994, 2004, 2014, and Projected 2024,” Employment Projections (2015).

Latinas and Asian women will make up the larger percentage of the US work force

• Of all board seats held by women of the S&P500, women of color make up just 19.8%

• Women of color make up 4.5% of executive/senior-level officials and managers

• Women of color represent 9.5% of all first/mid-level officials and managers

Women of Color Remain Underrepresentedin Leadership Positions

Catalyst, 2014 S&P 500 Board Seats Held by Women by Race/Ethnicity (March 17, 2015).U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 2014 Job Patterns for Minorities and Women in Private Industry (EEO-1) — 2014 EEO-1 National Aggregate Report (2014).

• Women of color made up 17% of college presidents (2011)

• Women of color made up 8% of all faculty (2011)

• Women of color accounted for 13% of private and 23% of public board of trustees

Barriers and Bias: The status of women leadership (2016).

Women of Color Remain Underrepresentedin Leadership Positions in Higher Ed

Overarching Themes

• Equal access and affirmative action has helped increase the number of women of color in higher education but the institution and their colleagues need to take them seriously (Trimmer, 2014)

• Minority faculty members in general do not feel that they have strong advocate at the upper levels (Wilson, 2016)

RESILIENCE

ENVIRONMENT

TENANTS OF ENVIRONMENT:

• Campus Climate

• Places and spaces that have the potential to nourish, affirm, and develop you

• Opportunities for innovation, creativity, and advancement

ROOTS

PANEL PROMPT:

• What are ways you refuel, take care of yourself, set boundaries or unplug?

TENANTS OF ROOTS:

• Activities that replenish

• Activities that allow you an escape

• Activities that ground you

#ResilienceTree

BRANCHES

PANEL PROMPT:

• Share an example of when you reached out for help or accepted help?

TENANTS OF BRANCHES:

• People who see your potential

• People who believe in you

• People who encourage you

#ResilienceTree

LEAVES

PANEL PROMPT:

• Describe a time when you realized you were confident and competent enough to give back.

TENANTS OF LEAVES:

• Paying it Forward

• Being a Witness to Others

• Sharing Lessons Learned

#ResilienceTree

TAKE-A-WAYSEnvironment• Be Authentic• “Don’t Let a Pig Wear Your Pearls”• Be able to recognize when you are not wanted and leaveRoots• Don’t “should” all over yourself• Learn to manage the unspoken expectations and self-talkBranches• Surround yourself with “eagles” not “chickens”• Have a “personal board of directors”• Look for people who will tell you the truthLeaves• Make time for your family and friends• Invest in others as others have invested in you (within reason)

RESOURCES

Jones, C., & Shorter-Gooden, K. (2003). Shifting: The Double Lives of Black Women in America. New York: HaperCollins. 340pp.

Lopez-Mulnix, E. E., Wolverton, M. and Zaki, S. A. (2011). Latinas in the Workplace: An Emerging Leadership Force. Stylus Publishing

Brown, E. M., Haygood, M., McLean, R. J. (2010). The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women. One World/Ballatine Books. 139pp.

REFERENCES

• Trimmer, A. (2013).After hiring women of color, colleges must walk the walk. The Chronicle of Higher Education.

• Wilson, R. (2016). A new front of activism. The Chronicle of Higher Education.

• Sobers, S. T. (2014) Can I Get a Witness?: The Resilience of Four Black Women Senior Student Affairs Administrators at Predominantly White Institutions. Disertation. University of the Pacific.

STAY IN TOUCH…

• Marilyn Tyus - matyus@umich.edu

• Shauna Sobers - ssobers@austin.utexas.edu

• LaToya Smith - Latoya.Hill@austin.utexas.edu

• Hemlata Jhaveri - hjhaveri@austin.utexas.edu