Women in the Workplace: Black Women

Every year, Lean In and McKinsey & Co. conduct Women in the Workplace, the largest study on the state of women in corporate America. Our data make it clear that there is no single story of women at work. Read on to learn more about the distinct biases and barriers Black women face.

Black women face distinct biases and barriers in corporate America.

Since 2016, Lean In and McKinsey & Company have conducted Women in the Workplace, the largest study on the state of women in corporate America. Each year, the findings clearly show that there is no single story of women at work. To better capture the diversity of women's experiences, our 2021 report includes data-driven narratives that highlight the experiences of Black women, Asian women, Latinas, lesbian and bisexual women, and women with disabilities.

By almost any measure, Black women are facing disproportionately high barriers in the workplace. They are heavily impacted by bias in hiring and promotions; Black women are promoted at a significantly lower rate than white women at the first step up to manager, and more than a quarter of Black women say their race has led to them missing out on an opportunity to advance. They experience more disrespect than other groups of women, in fact, they are three to four times as likely as white women to be subjected to biased and undermining comments and behavior.

All women are more likely than men to face bias and disrespect at work. But for women of color, these experiences are more frequent and reflect a wider range of biases. Compared to white women, Black women are more than three times as likely to hear people express surprise at their language skills or other abilities. Racial bias and gender bias compound, meaning Black women often face greater barriers than either white women or Black men.

The narrative is based on data from Lean In and McKinsey & Company's 2021 Women in the Workplace study. While it sheds light on some of the distinct experiences of Black women, it is by no means comprehensive. Women face multiple biases due to many aspects of their identity. Black women refers to women who self-identify as Black, African-American, or Black Canadian.