Sisterhood in the workplace

BY IMANI HENDRICK

After centuries of women fighting for justice, we are still living in a patriarchal society. The wage gap between men and women is alive and well, and many women are affected daily by misogynistic views in the workplace, leaving them defeated and misunderstood. However, while this is a very pressing issue, women cannot overcome this battle without addressing some internal issues. The biggest, in my opinion, is the lack of inclusion and the mean girl agenda.

The feminist movement, while claiming to fight for women, continues to undermine the true struggles of being black and a woman. This is how the Black Feminist movement and the use of terms like intersectionality (Coined by Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989) came to be. Black women have become the victims of misogynoir a term created by Moya Bailey in 2010. What this means is that while dealing with the complications of being a woman in a man’s world, your race makes it 10 times harder.

These ideologies that black culture is “too much,” have been passed down for generations and are very potent in the workplace. Corporate America is infiltrated with ideas of the “Angry Black Woman” and disgust towards natural hairstyles deeming them unprofessional and unacceptable. In light of these realities, a black woman must armor up with perseverance daily as the odds are always against her. Considering these truths, I find that black sisterhood in the workplace is not only important but vital. We must stand together in the face of opposition and be each other’s backbones.

Now, if you’re a Shonda Rimes fan like me then I’m sure you were excited to see the crossover of the hit dramas How To Get Away With Murder (HTGAWM) and Scandal. In the episode entitled “Allow me to reintroduce myself” we witness a huge blowout between Analise Keating and Olivia Pope. Both of these women are powerful figures in the legal world. But being black women, they have few peers. There is a scene where the two meet in the beauty salon and Analise says to Olivia “From the moment you met me, you treated me like a white man in a boardroom looking down on me like my hips are too big and my hue too dark.” This is an example that resonates with so many black women in the workplace but it doesn’t have to continue.

Below you will find 3 ways to show up for your sisters in the workplace

1. Make connections grounded in love

As we focus on black love this month (as we should every month) remember to put differences aside and be genuine to your fellow coworkers, especially other black women. A grounded love is one not easily wavered. We are all extensions of the love our ancestors had. There will be challenges but when we stick together we can achieve what is deemed implausible. Love conquers all.

2. Be an advocate

Black women are victims of not only wage gaps but also gender gaps. These interconnected struggles make it very off-putting to voice all opinions especially when you have a family to take care of. As an advocate, you can make sure that the black women in your workplace are not being unfairly scrutinized when issues are raised. Step up!

3. Be a mentor

Let’s be honest for a moment, the education system has failed at many things and one of the biggest pitfalls lies in real-world preparation. There are so many things that are preventable that end up happening due to a lack of knowledge and mentorship. All this is to encourage you to be the person you needed when you were younger. And of course, some people have to get burned by the fire to learn but there are so many ways you can help in being a guiding light.

To be a black woman is an extraordinary, yet daunting task at times so let’s propel them in all environments.