Challenges, Barriers, and the Underrepresentation of Black Women in Sustainable Global World Environment

Abstract

Women make up at least 50.8% of the United States population, and 46.8% are in the professional workforce per Census Quick Facts from 2016. United States Department of Labor, n.d.). Despite making up half of the United States population, women only represent 26% of managing roles in the workforce. In the 2019 study, “Women in the Workplace 2019”, McKinsey & Company found women to still lag in corporate America in areas of salary gaps, promotions due to the broken rung, glass ceilings, lack of training and development, among other gender and racial barriers. Workplace Fairness”, a broken rung is a missing step in the “corporate ladder”, which prevents women in entry-level roles from being promoted into management. The broken rung is the more significant barrier for Black women navigating the workplace. To successfully navigate the workplace and ascend into management roles, Black women saw the need to use perseverance strategies due to underrepresentation and the influence of race and traditional privileged gendered roles. The study’s outcome addresses the challenges, barriers, and perseverance strategies Black women used to ascend into management roles. Mentorship and sponsorship are critical for helping Black women to advance within the workplace. The research study may be significant to Black women managers and future leaders. Without the critical influence of a mentor or sponsor, the Black woman will remain underrepresented in management positions. Further exploration of specific perseverance strategies and how they may have been demonstrated in their collegiate programs to prepare Black women for their professional careers.