Authenticity has become quite the buzzword lately. So much revolves around being more authentic, showing up as your “real” self, being more “real”…All you have to do is pop open any social media platform, from Instagram to Facebook, to come face-to-face with some deep, or deeply funny, quote or meme about being more authentic and less “fake”…Needless to say, if you struggle with uncertainty or doubts about your authentic self, this is bound to make you slightly uncomfortable. Even worse, if you happen to be a Black working woman dealing with the double-bind of authenticity in and outside of the workplace, it’s bound to make you stir in place, and possibly tighten your chest a bit. Being “real” is all good and well most of the time, but can you really be “real” at work as a Black professional woman?
I distinctively remember my very first week at my very first “real” job, as a freshly minted new graduate with fresh new credentials, new shoes and a new Ann Taylor blouse (I couldn’t afford the whole suit just yet). While all the new freshly minted recruits introduced themselves, sharing personal stories about their families, dogs and where they were from, I was racking my brain trying to figure out what I would and would not share. I was one of a few Black women in the room. I was born in a beautiful place that happened to be across the Atlantic Ocean. And my name not exactly Jane or John. I was different. And I didn’t know whether I could really be real at work…
If you’re reading this and nodding your head because you went through a similar experience, then you know how challenging being authentic in the workplace can be. Despite it being touted as the ultimate thing to be, it doesn’t come easy for many minorities, especially for Black women at work.
According to the 2020 Mc Kinsey Women in the Workplace report, women of color, especially Black women, have been consistently underrepresented in senior management for the sixth year in a row for reasons other than attrition alone. They also face more challenges as they make their way up the corporate ladder, lagging behind for reasons such as lack of support and access to senior leadership, as well as other factors. After Xerox’s ex-CEO Ursula Burns’ exit, Rosalind Brewer is now the only Black woman currently heading a Fortune 500 company in the United States, after taking on the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) on March 15, 2021. Even still, Brewer is only the third Black woman to serve as CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
Authentic leadership theory argues when organizational leaders are aware of and act upon their true beliefs, values and strengths, while helping others do the same, they also contribute to higher well-being levels and increased employee performance. While authenticity is hailed as a significant business advantage, contributing to employee well-beingthrough increased job satisfaction, decreased work stress, and stress symptoms, and spurring innovation and creativity,its benefits still largely elude Black women at work. As a matter of fact, sociological research demonstrates tensions between what authenticity truly means in terms of the true self, and social constructions of black authenticity, leading to a “hybridized black authenticity”. As such, Black women are faced with having to juggle multiple ideals of authenticity, struggling with combining “raceless’ and race-specific expectations. Quite the juggle, if you ask me…
So can you really be real at work as a Black woman? It’s a loaded question, and one that begs further exploration at both the personal and organizational level. Above all, what is crucial here is to understand that authenticity for Black women at work is not just a matter of showing up as you are, or even bringing your whole self to work. It’s a matter of walking the tightrope of a hybrid concept and understanding of authenticity that requires us to constantly toggle between what it means to be oneself, and what it means to be a Black woman. Or at least what society has constructed in both scenarios…
Can you really be real as a Black woman at work? Let us know your insights and share your stories in the comments or by emailing us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
Welcome to my “Ask A CPA” feature. This is where the nerdy CPA in me comes out and shares some actionable and practical personal finance, business and accounting tools and tips for working women. Got any business or accounting questions? Send them my way at corporate@thecorporatesister.com.
One of the most prized pieces of advice I’ve ever received is to strive for financial stability and increase as a working woman, regardless of the path I may choose in life. However, it wasn’t until many years later that I truly started considering the importance of this one piece of counsel.
This also seems to be the case for many women, as research data from Earnest shows men’s net worth is nearly double that of women’s. This has given rise to the gender wealth gap, which turns out to be even worse when considering individual racial lines. According to the Center of Global Policy Solutions’ October 2014 Fact Sheet, income inequality, unemployment, retirement security, compounded by the effects of motherhood, are among the factors contributing to this wealth gap. As such, this rampant inequality creates a gap not just among genders, but also in the wealth potential of entire families, communities, countries and by extension the world we live in. Hence the importance of solving a problem that ultimately impacts all of us by helping women in general, and minority women in particular, achieve financial stability and growth by providing them with tools and tips to increase their net worth.
The concept of net worth is based on the difference between what we, as individuals own, also known as our assets, and what we owe, which are our debts or liabilities. Assets may consist of homes, personal possessions, vehicles, investments. Debts or liabilities may be personal loans, mortgages, credit card loans, and other obligations. The difference between the two results in individuals’ net worth. Tracking one’s net worth over time is an effective way to ensure being on track financially, but also improving one’s financial position by increasing one’s net worth.
While many increasing one’s net worth is challenging at best, and nearly impossible at worst, especially as life’s obligations and commitments pile up with time, it is actually pretty feasible to do so. If you’re facing this challenge today, and are not sure where to start, here are 2 simple ways to begin the process:
1- Consider your assets:
Track your existing assets: Do you really know what you own? When was the last time you made an inventory of your assets? If you have not done it in a while, or have never done it at all, it may be time to start.
Increase your salary: Can you ask for a raise? Are you able to make a calculated professional move that can result in a greater pay? If so, increasing your salary can greatly contribute to boosting your assets and net worth.
Diversify your income: Have you been considering adding additional streams of income to your revenue? Are you toying with this dream side hustle you’ve been thinking of for quite some time? How about that business you’ve been wanting to start? Diversifying and multiplying your streams of income is one of the most effective strategies to add a boost to your assets.
Invest in assets that appreciate in value over time: If you’ve been dabbling into investing into stocks, bonds, life insurance, or any other investment vehicle, you are on the right path. Investing in assets that grow in value over time, as opposed to assets that lose value over time such as cars, clothing and other personal possessions, can work wonders for your net worth.
2- What about that debt?
The second part of any strategy to increase your net worth begins with taking a good, hard look at your debts. That’s the part that’s dreaded by most, especially women, who, according to 2021 data by Educationdata.org, unfortunately hold 58% of all student loan debt in the U.S. In addition, this study by the Federal Reserve demonstrates a gender-related credit score gap showing lower credit scores for single women as opposed to their male counterparts, which also accounts for a heavier credit use by single women than single men. Furthermore, the more acute financial effects of divorce on women only worsens these already bleak findings. Hence the importance of making debt handling a priority for women.
Pay off the debt: Can you redirect some of your savings towards paying off debt? Where can you trim your expenses to allocate more funds towards reducing your credit card debt and other liabilities? Can you afford an extra mortgage payment every year? Focusing efforts and finances to paying off debt can go a long way towards increasing your net worth, in addition to eliminating the pressure and stress that comes with it.
Resist the temptation to acquire more debt: A large majority of our environment is geared towards extreme consumerism. From ads on our mobile phones, to open publicity on social media, not to mention the constant pressure to upgrade our products and services, we are most often exposed to the temptation to use credit. The more we can resist this temptation, the less debt we acquire, and the more we can strengthen our net worth.
Are you working at increasing your net worth? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com and share your insights and stories with us.
“What if I’m the only one in the room?” I used to be petrified to be the only one in the room, the only woman, the only Black woman, the only introverted, the only one with natural hair, etc…It’s a common fear we have as working women, especially as Black women in the workplace. What if it’s just me? Then we may shrink, run away, talk ourselves out of opportunities, or just grow silent…
This is a very acute feeling and reality for Black women at work. According to McKinsey’s 2020 Women in the Workplace report, 49% of Black women at work feel their ethnicity makes it harder for them to get promoted, or obtain a raise, as compared to 3% of white women and 11% of all women.
If you’re asking yourself this question and are just not sure what to do, here are a few tips that can help:
1- Turn the fear into strength: Being the only one in the room also rhymes with being hyper visible. It’s also having the opportunity to share unique ideas and insights, and benefit from the exposure. Changing perspectives and positioning oneself in a position of strength rather than as a victim can make a world of difference.
2- Identify allies: Resist the temptation to shut people out! There are people out there who will support you and root for you! These are the allies who will give credit to your ideas during meetings, challenge insensitive comments, etc…Identify them and welcome the support!
3- Find sponsors:Sponsors will advocate for you and argue on your behalf. Additionally, sponsors who are different from you can actually help you by exposing you to different networks, ideas and insights. Identifying potential sponsors and reaching out to them can prove invaluable in advancing one’s career.
4- Find your tribe: Find people who think like you, through clubs, groups and other associations. Not only is the support necessary, but the networking, mental, and psychological lift of a community can create much needed momentum in one’s career.
Overall, turning the fear of being the only one into strength, identifying potential allies and sponsors, and finding one’s own tribe can not only alleviate the pressure of being the only Black woman in the room, but also create advantages out of a challenging position.
What has been your experience being the “only one in the room”?
Let it be the Weekend is our news roundup featuring career, business and lifestyle news for working women and moms. If you would like to propose some news or topics we can cover, please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com
This week, we salute icon Cicely Tyson’s journey and path as we celebrate her life;
“It’s hard to explain what it feels like to be a Black woman at work.
“It feels like a long, invisible uphill battle.”
“I feel like I can’t be myself at work, that I constantly have to perform.”
These are a few of the words and feelings echoed by many Black women at work, indicative of a general sense of unease and even struggle in the workplace. This struggle is largely reflected in the general state of Black women in the workplace, as documented in the 2020 State of Black Women in the Workplace report published by McKinsey& Company.
Stuck at the intersection of race and gender, Black women have faced for decades heavier challenges than most other employees, including wider lack of representation and large pay gap, to cite a few. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated health and economic crisis, which has disproportionately impacted the Black community, these barriers have grown tremendously. At a time when one in three mothers is considering leaving the workforce or scaling down their career plans due to carrying the brunt of the crisis both on the home and the work front, Black women are even more at a disadvantage.
Yet, this gender diversity crisis is also an opportunity to identify what has not been working in the corporate and business world for Black women. Without understanding the unique problems faced by Black women and women of color at work, it’s virtually impossible to create the appropriate solutions.
From mine and so many other Black women’s experiences in the workplaces, here are 7 common struggles they face at work:
Feeling judged more harshly and subject to higher expectations
One common observation of Black women at work has all to do with not benefiting from the same treatment as most other employees. This is often referred to as a feeling of being judged less impartially, and falling subject to higher and more stringent expectations. This is in addition to being even punished for being ambitious. Unfortunately, this also leads very often to a sense of being set up for failure, potentially fostering early career disappointment, lack of motivation and ultimately complete career abandonment.
Lacking support
Support in the workplace is absolutely pivotal for employees, especially those who are part of minority or disadvantaged groups. Manager support especially, can make the difference between motivated, high-achieving employees, and employees who lag behind. During the COVID-19 crisis, and as a result of the racial incidents in the United States, Black women have had to carry a heavy emotional and mental toll and report not feeling supported by their management.
Playing the role of the token
Tokenism is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the practice of doing something (such as hiring a person who belongs to a minority group) only to prevent criticism and give the appearance people are being treated fairly”. While research has shown that tokenism can also afford minorities a competitive edge, being used as the representative of an entire race can also have the adverse effect, resulting in felling overwhelmed, over-burdened, and isolated.
Lacking deserved recognition
Lack of recognition is another struggle Black women have faced for decades in the workplace. Having to work harder and being “twice as good” is not uncommon for many, if not most, Black women. While it’s considered to be the price to pay to attain higher and unprecedented levels of achievement, it also limits the potential of these women and sets a negative precedent for all.
Being the only one in the room
Faced with low numbers of women in management and leadership, many Black women find themselves to be the “only one” in the room. Without the opportunity to see themselves in others, isolation and self-doubt, combined with rampant imposter syndrome, can easily set in. What this also creates is the expectation that there will always be a limited number of Black women at the table, thus exacerbating this feeling of otherness and exclusion.
Less interaction with leadership
Along with the lack of support, limited opportunities to interact with company leadership and management also creates a significant source of blockage for Black women at work. Without the opportunity to reach senior management, there are lessened chances to convey the ideas, performance, as well as issues faced by Black women at work.
Experiencing micro-aggressions at work
Micro-aggressions are “comments or actions that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally express a prejudiced attitude towards a member of a marginalized group.” For Black women at work, they are a big deal, often creating and reinforcing layers of structural racism. As such, they can have a macro and life-changing impact, affecting Black women on an emotional, mental and physical level, with long-standing personal and professional implications.
All in all, these struggles, and so many others, not only stand in the way of career success for Black women at work, but they also have the potential of scarring them on a deeper mental, psychological and emotional scale. This is why it’s so important to understand not just their impact, but how they manifest in and outside of the workplace. Only when we begin to break the taboo around the walls faced by Black women in the workplace, that we can begin to collectively heal and grow.
What struggles are you facing in the workplace as a Black woman?
