WOMEN OF COLOR EXPERIENCE WORK LIFE DIFFERENTLY

gannett via bloomberg no url | 11/26/3

[NativeNewYorker]

Subtle things mark the experiences of many women of color in the corporate world.

An executive discovers she hasn't been invited for after-work drinks with other executives where key deals are discussed. A young MBA is passed over for an executive training program while others with fewer qualifications are promoted. A newcomer to the firm is continually asked, ``What are you?''

``A lot of us women of color have similar stories,'' said Gilda M. Morales, a former corporate accountant who is a program coordinator for public information services at the Center for American Women and Politics, a division of Rutgers University's Eagleton Institute of Politics in New Brunswick, N.J.

``There's always that time where you look around and say to yourself, 'What does it take to get ahead? Why does it seem like I'm on a different track than the men and white women in this company?'' said Morales, a Latina. ``It's a frustration I've found women of color deal with in corporations as well as in academia.''

Morales was among 600 women participating in a groundbreaking conference, ``Best Companies for Women of Color,'' held earlier this year in New York. For many attendees, it was their first time participating in a conference specifically for - and about - women of color.

``What stood out for me was the different issues and similar issues facing all of us,'' said Gloria D. McDonald, manager of diversity for Prudential Financial Services. McDonald is black. ``We had an opportunity to all highlight the positive things we all brought to the workplace.''

While their presence and success in their companies would seem to signal progress of diversity initiatives in the corporate world, most of the women agreed they faced daunting challenges: few or no sponsors or mentors, pay inequity and feeling isolated because there were few, if any, women of color near or at the top.

In addition, many women of color are confronted with instances in which others in their organizations make assumptions about them based on stereotypes associated with their cultural or ethnic identity.

``There is a ladder with different rungs,'' said Lesia Bates Moss, a senior vice president in the real estate finance group at Moody's Investors Service in New York. Moss is black. ``On those rungs, we are very well staggered, starting first and foremost with Caucasian men, who are running most corporations. Women of color are at the bottom of that ladder.''

Many speakers and participants said the attitudes and behaviors leading to that bottom placement are easy to miss - unless you're the one being left out.

``In general, European people consciously deny their negative feelings about people of color. They will not discriminate openly and directly,'' said Melba Vasquez, an Austin, Texas-based psychologist, who is a Latina. But, she said, many whites do still feel uncertain or uneasy around people of color. ``Because of those feelings, they will discriminate, often unintentionally, when their behavior can be justified on the basis of some factor other than race or ethnicity.

``When we're anxious and uneasy because we're uncomfortable around certain people, that comes through. One may not be conscious of it, but the receiver usually is.''

Given these types of challenges, speakers and participants agreed that the most important thing for women of color was to hold onto their identities.

``At the end of the day, you have to be yourself. You are what you are and all of you should feel terrific about where you are and who you are. You're all very successful,'' said Miriam Vializ-Briggs, vice president of marketing for grid computing at IBM, who is a Latina.

``You have to wake up every morning and feel you're great, that you have wonderful skills and experiences to bring to your organization.''

[Revolting cat!]

I did, thanks. There is a thread on this subject somewhere here (the master/slave PC controversy.) I hope the manufacturers fight back - enough is enough.

[big_Rob]

I think they're orange

[Paul Atreides]

'What does it take to get ahead?

I think there are some Bush nominations asking the same thing.

[Paul Atreides]

A young MBA is passed over for an executive training program while others with fewer qualifications are promoted.

However, when the situation is reversed, it is called affirmative action, and is okay.

[Paul Atreides]

What do you call a white member of PETA?

An animal cracker.

[international american]

What about obese handicapped gay albino women?? HUH?? Does anyone speak for them??..... I THINK NOT!!!!

[cupcakes]

Oh yes, that is it exactly isn't it? It seems so many women of color come with this chip ingrained in them and it just isn't conducive to a professional environment.
Something tells me that Ms. Morales would not hesitate into screaming tirades of racial discrimination if she is crossed in the workplace. The stereotype people don't want to deal with is the one that comes with that ingrained chip--the "diva" attitude--the woman of color who are difficult, talk over others and in their face, intimidates, is loud and obnoxious, and claims discrimination at any slight or missed oppurtunity. This stereotype, and I have seen it fulfilled many time, is of the black female as bully. Something tells me if black women would stop behaving as diva bullies they might get more respect. Look at Condie--I bet she never behaved in such a manner and look where she is!

[Inspectorette]

the woman of color who are difficult, talk over others and in their face, intimidates, is loud and obnoxious, and claims discrimination at any slight or missed oppurtunity.

Hmmm, let's see: Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson-Lee, "Jihad" Cynthia McKinney, Eleanor Holmes Norton, just about every African-American Democratic female politician.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

What about obese handicapped gay albino women??

Stop anti-albinism!!

[.cnI redruM]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>McDonald is black. ``We had an opportunity to all highlight the positive things we all brought to the workplace

And please let someone literate compose the memorandums please.

[international american]

Anti-Albinism....a scourge on the American landscape!

[Sergio]

As an American of Hispanic extraction, my take is as follows.

What have you whiners done to change the stereotype????

Every time I see a young Hispanic male on the news, that's all tatted up, with a hairnet on, in gang/urban attire, flashing gang signs to the camera as he tells the news lady, "Hey esse, Little Puppet, he never did nothing to no one. The cops had no right to arrest him." I think to my self, "Thanks, you dork, you just made it harder for me to get a job."

Yes, we have every right to dress, act, and speak however we want, but everyone else has the right to form an opinion about us based on how we dress, act, and speak.

Do you do your best to fit in and prove that the stereotype does not apply to you, or are you a "I'm not changing for anyone and you MUST like me" kinda person. Remember, we reap what we sow.

Best Regards

Sergio

[Only1choice____Freedom]

I get the feeling that some of these people think that life is supposed to be easy. They seem to think that white people are just handed success on a silver platter.

It must be nice to be able to blame everybody else for all your problems. I only have myself to blame for most of mine. I guess I should sue myself for self-discrimination.

I'm not saying discrimination doesn't happen, it does. But there is a whole sector of society that needs it to continue in order to survive. To blame somebody else for your own pain defers your ability to grow.

[openotherend]

I've always gone for the plaid woman, but then again I've always danced with a different drumstick.

[af_vet_1981]

I love it when a black man tells me I'll never understand discrimination. That's when I inform him that no "man" can accuse a "woman" of not knowing what discrimination is.

Then there is the latest high school trick where the black boys hit on the white girls and use racial guilt to get them to give up sexual favors. Otherwise they are racist ...

[af_vet_1981]

Every time I see a young Hispanic male on the news, that's all tatted up, with a hairnet on, in gang/urban attire, flashing gang signs to the camera as he tells the news lady, "Hey esse, Little Puppet, he never did nothing to no one. The cops had no right to arrest him." I think to my self, "Diversity is the key to success."

Yep, that's what I do.

[Alas Babylon!]

The problem with being a white male and having a job is you can never blame someone else for your failures. Now that's discrimination! We have no one to blame!

So for all those poor working stiffs who happen to be white males but aren't senior vice presidents or in any other juicy job, well, too bad.

[NMFXSTC]

I beleive this sums it all up:

To ensure that things be decided without regard to race, creed, color, sex, or national origin, we insist that nothing be decided except according to race, creed, color....

[TexasCajun]

What Color????

Any color other than Caucasian White!!

I guess that makes me a Person of Non-Color.