Women in the Workplace: Latinas

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 Latinas face.

Latinas 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 Latinas, Asian women, Black women, lesbian and bisexual women, and women with disabilities.

Latinas are less likely than other women to have a high degree of flexibility in their jobs, which makes balancing work and life especially difficult. Compared to women of other races and ethnicities, Latinas are less likely to say they have the flexibility to take time off for family or personal reasons, and they are also less likely to be able to step away from work to deal with unexpected events.

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, Latinas and Asian women are twice as likely to hear people express surprise at their language skills or other abilities.

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 Latinas, it is by no means comprehensive. Women face multiple biases due to many aspects of their identity. Latinas refers to women who self-identify as Latinx, Latina, or Hispanic.