Description

The Concrete Ceiling :The Effects of Gendered Racism and Black Women’s Career Mobility

Black women have the highest workforce participation compared to other women in the United States and more likely to earn college degrees. Yet, they are denied training, promotion, and advancement at higher rates compared to their counterparts. A significant amount of the research about Black women’s career mobility suggests the trajectory for Black women is blocked. The reasons for these discrepancies are necessary and is examined throughout this presentation.
The unique barriers Black women often experience in their efforts toward upward career mobility consisting of stereotypes, gendered racism, microaggressions, lack of mentorship, and lack of organizational support are addressed. Historical background related to Black women’s participation in the workforce are considered in providing a framework in understanding the present-day implications regarding these unique barriers. The research suggests organizations and the U.S. economy at large are negatively impacted when Black women face a concrete wall in their efforts at upward career mobility. The micro, mezzo, and macro effects of this problem are important underscoring the significance of this problem. Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Intersectionality Theory (IT) are utilized as the theoretical frameworks applied to this phenomenon and discussed in this presentation.
The unique career barriers experienced by Black women demands the need for effective, outcome- measured, targeted, and non-performative DEIB interventions. Recommendations and suggestions designed to reduce and eliminate their unique career barriers within organizations and policy are presented.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to consider the role of gendered racism and intersectionality contributing to the unique barriers Black women often experience in their career mobility efforts.
2. Participants will be able to consider the implications of the micro, mezzo, and macro effects of Black women lacking support and other necessary scaffolding in career advancement opportunities within their organizations.
3.  Participants will be able to apply the knowledge gained about Black women’s unique career mobility barriers recognizing the need for targeted, agency-based practice solutions that are effective and non-performative in closing gaps and barriers impeding Black women’s upward career mobility efforts.

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

 

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/22-9/29/25. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Melissa Whitaker at melissa.whitaker@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.