Women of Color and decent work: An examination of psychology of working theory

Abstract

Women of Color (WOC) in the United States experience a unique form of intersecting oppression in the realm of work. Various previous studies have shown that WOC experience work objectively (e.g., wage disparity) and subjectively (e.g., compromised job satisfaction) differently than White women or Men of Color, indicating that WOC is less likely to attain decent work than their counterparts. In the present study, using psychology of working theory as the theoretical framework, we examined the predictors and outcomes of decent work (an aspirational goal for all working individuals) among a sample of working adults who self-identified as WOC (N = 270). Results indicated that WOC's lifetime experiences of economic constraints and marginalization, directly and indirectly, affected decent work attainment via work volition (a sense of choice in one's career). Moreover, the attainment of decent work was positively related to work fulfillment and well-being. The implications and future directions are discussed.