Black Women in the Workforce

Abstract

In light of unresponsive White House administration and recent court decisions limiting or dissolving necessary and hard-earned employment rights, meaningful participation for women in the labor force may have reached its zenith. This is especially true for Black women. A number of erroneous beliefs regarding Black women in the labor force exist today. Many Americans assume that Black women have made tremendous progress in the American labor market in the last two decades as a result of civil rights legislation and affirmative-action efforts. Further, it has been speculated that Black women have outpaced Black men in obtaining employment, that Black women earn more than White women, and that their economic and occupational status should be envied rather than deplored. These are misconceptions. Government data do not bear out these beliefs. In 1987, more than 58% of all Black women were gainfully employed (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1989c, p. 377). On average, these women still received lower wages than other groups. In 1988, the median income was $7,349 for Black women, $9,103 for White women, $12,044 for Black men, and $19,959 for White men. In that same year, the median income for Black families was $16,407 as compared to $27,225 for White families. The median income for female householders with no husband present was $10,657 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1989a).