Black women are more likely than Black men and white men and women to go unnoticed on the street or to be acknowledged in group conversations, reports Psychology Today. While there are some noticeable exceptions, such as like Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, in general, Black women must work harder than Black men and white women to stand out and have their voices heard.
These findings come from a 2010 study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Melissa Burkley, the author of the Psychology Today articles says, “Because of their multiple subordinate-group identity, Black women live in the intersection between these two stereotyped groups [Black and female], and as a result, often fall between the cracks.”
Source: “Are Black Women Invisible?” by Melissa Burkley, Psychology Today, December 8, 2010.
This article was featured in the December 15, 2010 issue of Diversity Best Practices’ email newsletter, Diversity in the News. To subscribe to Diversity in the News, register on the newsletter page of this website.
