Pay Gap Part of a Much Bigger Problem: New Report Shows the Workplace is Worse for Black Women on Almost Every Dimension
"The State of Black Women in Corporate America" from LeanIn.Org calls on employers to take concrete steps to support and advance Black women
on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, LeanIn.Org released a new report, The State of Black Women in Corporate America, that shows Black women are having a markedly worse experience at work than white women and other women of color. The report offers an in-depth look at Black women’s experiences in the workplace, and at the systemic barriers holding them back. It also outlines specific steps companies can take to prioritize advancing and supporting Black women(Pay Gap).
The State of Black Women in Corporate America draws on several years of insights from Lean In and McKinsey & Company’s annual Women in the Workplace study, along with recent research conducted by LeanIn.Org in partnership with SurveyMonkey. To our knowledge, Women in the Workplace is the largest study on women’s experiences in corporate America, which makes The State of Black Women in Corporate America the most comprehensive report on Black women’s experiences at work.
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The release of The State of Black Women in Corporate America coincides with Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which marks how far Black women had to work into 2020 to catch up with what white men earned in 2019 alone. On average, Black women earn 38% less than white men and 21% less than white women. That adds up to almost a million dollars over the course of a Black woman’s career.
“The pay gap is a huge injustice, and this report shows that it’s just one part of a much bigger problem,” said Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and co-founder of LeanIn.Org. “It’s critical that we take a hard look at what’s happening in the workplace and do more to advance Black women. The research is clear, women are having a worse experience at work than men. Women of color are having a worse experience than white women. And Black women in particular are having the worst experience of all.”
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As the report shows, Black women encounter inequality and discrimination at work on a regular basis, in areas ranging from hiring and promotions, to support from leadership, to casual interactions with colleagues. For every 100 entry-level men promoted to manager, only 58 Black women are promoted. Almost 60% of Black women have never had an informal interaction with a senior leader. And Black women are more likely to have their competence underestimated or questioned—more than a quarter of Black women have heard a colleague express surprise at their language skills or other abilities.
“In this moment, with a national conversation underway about the systemic injustices Black people face, we must take a hard look at what’s happening in the workplace,” added LeanIn.Org’s Managing Director Raena Saddler. “For too many Black women, work is yet another place where we encounter inequality and discrimination. Our report shares clear, concrete solutions companies can implement today to ensure there is a work environment where Black women are represented and empowered to thrive.”
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