Reference no: EM132937628

Background

Historically women have been treated disparately in the workplace and have fought to break through glass ceilings. Women of color, especially Black women have experienced "concrete ceilings," making it practically impossible to obtain and retain leadership positions. They also experienced additional challenges as leaders in organizations, have been labeled as "angry, bossy, overly aggressive, and unprofessional in tone and appearance.  Valerie Jarrett (2020), senior adviser to former President Obama stated the following "women have been subject to stereotypes and tropes about qualifications, leadership, looks, relationships and experience. Those stereotypes are often amplified and weaponized for Black and Brown women." Black women have also been subjected to workplace discrimination due to hair styles. The Crown Act (Links to an external site.) which prohibits "race-based hair discrimination" was passed in several states. However, the Act was not introduced in many states and failed to pass in other states.

Discussion Questions

• Discuss the meaning of the following statement made by Jarrett (2020) "women have been subject to stereotypes and tropes about qualifications, leadership, looks, relationships and experience. Those stereotypes are often amplified and weaponized for Black and Brown women." Your response should also address how glass ceilings, cultures of exclusion, concrete ceilings, and implicit bias affect Black women in the workplace, and how workplace experiences for white women are different from Black women's experiences.  
• Why is personal/physical appearance stigmatizing an emerging diversity issue?  (discuss hair, weight, appearance, body piercings, tattoos, etc.)
• Should the Crown Act be passed in all states? Explain in detail