ABSTRACT
While navigating through “the labyrinth,” barriers that block women from reaching leadership positions, Black women encounter discriminatory challenges in the workplace, such as gendered racism (the intersection of racism and sexism). Due to experiences of gendered racism in the workplace, research suggests that early career Black women may feel pressured to alter their self-presentation to get ahead in their career, which is referred to as identity shifting. Previous research argues that though there are benefits to altering one’s self in the workplace, such as career advancement, shifting can also potentially cause negative psychological outcomes, such as stress. Hence, a Black woman choosing to be her “authentic self” in a predominately-White work environment is an act of defiance and a form of wellness. Choosing wellness is a form of resistance because it involves guarding one’s self from internalizing stereotypes and negative perceptions from others by countering the norms and expectations set forth by the organization’s work culture. The goal of this chapter is to highlight literature on how early career Black women resist pressures to conform by remaining their authentic selves in the workplace, discuss the importance of mentorship and how employers can build a culture of inclusivity which lessens the need for shifting identities, thus enhancing job satisfaction and career development among early career Black women.
