Survey Shows that Black Professional Women Are Still Facing Key Barriers in US Companies

The League of Black Women recently released compelling survey results that reflect the barriers many Black Women are still facing in Corporate America.

Summary of Findings

Using the results from the 2005 LBW Having Our Say: Fostering the Leadership Potential of Black Women in America Survey, data augmented by supplemental research and in-depth interviews with a cross-section of black professional women, The League of Black Women identified three key areas that influence the level of satisfaction black women obtain in their professional and personal lives – Engagement, Cohesion and Bicultural Leadership

DEFINITIONS

Engagement - Defines institutions and people that have the greatest impact on black women’s lives

Cohesion - Describes the quality of black women’s relationships with each other – an exploration of the bonds between black women

Bicultural Leadership - A LBW term used to describe circumstances in which black women led or exude authority over non-blacks in the workplace


KEY SURVEY FINDINGS

---ENGAGEMENT

At Work

56 percent of respondents ranked work as a distant second to family (Family is a life facet which black women invest most of their energy and efforts)
62 percent report they give more of themselves at work when they are valued for who they are in the workplace
Only 4 percent who focused energy and efforts toward work reported that it was the most personally fulfilling area of their lives

Keys to Joyful Living

· Only 20 percent reported having “very satisfied” lives
· 63 percent of women who didn’t have a close relationship with a black woman in their workplace, family or community reported a lower level of joyful living

Spirituality

· According to written responses and personal interviews, the majority of women responded that faith is a very important aspect of their lives

Additional Findings

· One notable barrier - exhaustion from behaving in ways that felt unauthentic in order to be accepted, especially in the workplace
· In their write-in comments, black women described emotional and physical exhaustion, financial instability, weight control issues and fractured relationships as factors that prevent them from living a joyful life
· Women over 45 reported greater life satisfaction than younger women
· Women with higher household incomes greater than $50k reported greater life satisfaction
· Women with advanced degrees reported greater life satisfaction

Barriers to Joyful Living

The top factors identified as barriers to joyful living include:

· The lack of resources or opportunities to pursue goals, and being underpaid
· The stress of playing multiple roles
· Difficulty in finding a suitable mate or partner

---COHESION

The report suggests shared values among black women in corporate environments may boost productivity and greater commitment to their companies

30 percent reported the top two benefits black women receive from relationships with other black women are “someone who understands me” and “a relationship based on mutual trust and respect” (29 percent)

Barriers to Cohesion

The disproportionate representation of black women in leadership roles in organizations helps to perpetuate a competitive environment and fuels a lack of trust

---BICULTURAL LEADERSHIP

57 percent reported they believe they are likely to reach their full potential despite low representation in corporate hierarchies

Nearly 80 percent of survey respondents see attitudes toward race as a hurdle affecting their effectiveness as leaders, to some extent. Women cited that race affects interactions with individuals who potentially could influence and advance their career track

Despite some of the barriers of cohesion between black women, respondents reported black women were among the two groups identified as most likely to follow their leadership (43 percent) followed by white women (19 percent)

Barriers/Challenges to Bicultural Leadership

Besides race and gender, respondents cited “under utilization of their education and skills were barriers to leadership”

# # #

ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF BLACK WOMEN

The League of Black Women (LBW) is a nonprofit organization that provides access to strategic support for developing and sustaining leadership values and joyful living for black women. LBW seeks to ensure that its members emerge as leaders within their communities to contribute substantial and lasting improvements to shape the world.

For more information on the LBW see their website at http://league.bevansgroup.com/index.asp?pageid=1

Special Thanks goes out to Miya A. Walker of LAGRANT COMMUNICTIONS

for sharing this timely information.

Send us your comments: kwells@howard.edu