Racism In The Racism In The Work Place Work Place Women and African American Women and African American Women Women

Working WomenWorking WomenWomen have struggled to get to where they are Women have struggled to get to where they are today, there is no doubt.today, there is no doubt.

More and more women are both raising families More and more women are both raising families and working. and working.

They are going to college and getting degrees in They are going to college and getting degrees in business and nursing and teaching. business and nursing and teaching. Women have truly come a long way, but there are Women have truly come a long way, but there are still limits to how far they can go, as represented by still limits to how far they can go, as represented by the glass ceiling. the glass ceiling.

Women alone in the workforce are paid less and Women alone in the workforce are paid less and undervalued compared to men undervalued compared to men

Black Women At WorkBlack Women At Work Black women face the same struggles as Black women face the same struggles as

White women; however, they have to face White women; however, they have to face issues of diversity on top of inequality. issues of diversity on top of inequality.

Five basic themes emerged that identify when Five basic themes emerged that identify when racism and sexism are experienced as racism and sexism are experienced as stressors for African American women in the stressors for African American women in the workplace. workplace.

StressorsStressors

The themes are: The themes are: (1) being hired or promoted in the workplace(1) being hired or promoted in the workplace (2) defending one’s race and lack of (2) defending one’s race and lack of

mentorshipmentorship (3) shifting or code switching to overcome (3) shifting or code switching to overcome

barriers to employmentbarriers to employment (4) coping with racism and discrimination(4) coping with racism and discrimination (5) being isolated and/or excluded(5) being isolated and/or excluded

ChallengesChallenges

Yes, women have come Yes, women have come a long way, but these a long way, but these key challenges remain: key challenges remain: 

1. Maternity Leave1. Maternity Leave2. 2. Leadership RolesLeadership Roles3. Sexual Harassment3. Sexual Harassment

ChangesChanges

Differences may Differences may have existed in the have existed in the past but these past but these differences are differences are rapidly disappearingrapidly disappearing

StatisticsStatistics