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Home • Lifestyle

8 Microaggressions Most #BlackWomenAtWork Have Experienced At Least Once

Will this BS ever stop?
By Lauren Porter · Updated December 6, 2020
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Being a Black woman is lit. (No one can deny that.) But being a Black woman in the professional world often comes with more lows than highs. They come in the form of microagressions aimed at everything from our choice of hairstyles or position of power.

It’s an unwelcome shared experience for all Black women, and yesterday evening Twitter turned into a public ventin board after Congresswoman Maxine Waters and White House reporter April Ryan were publicly attacked for simply being Black women at work. Women from all around the world shared their similar experiences.

Here are eight of them we bet you can relate to.

When White people assume a Black person is the help:

https://twitter.com/pastortraci/status/846925581103124480

As the assistant manager at a retail store a white customer told me "I want to speak to the people in charge not the help" #BlackWomenAtWork

— micia (@DeMiciaValon) March 28, 2017

When Black bodies makes them feel inferior:

Being told by my 5' 11" much younger WW coworker that sometimes she feels scared and intimidated by me. I'm 5' 2". #BlackWomenAtWork

— Rebecca Carroll (@rebel19) March 29, 2017

I was told at that awful job from the first story to wear slacks not pencil skirts because I was "shapely" #BlackWomenatWork

— micia (@DeMiciaValon) March 28, 2017

I'm 5 feet tall. 90 pounds. Former cheerleader. Told I was intimidating and off-putting by colleague on third day. #BlackWomenAtWork

— Tori (@ToriJoi) March 28, 2017

When Black people become office attractions.

https://twitter.com/Divinelylogical/status/846856860636450816

When our voices are heard but not acknowledged.

Me: *makes a suggestions in meeting*

-Silence-

A white: *Says same exact thing I just did

Whole room: #BlackWomenAtWork pic.twitter.com/zv9Z6gNKaJ

— M’baku’s Thighs (@RebekahJae) March 28, 2017

When our hair becomes part of office conversation.

*wears hair out* I like your hair
*wears a bun* You cut your hair?
*wears hair out agn* New hair? You change it so much#BlackWomenAtWork

— Excessively Black, J Pennie (@penntoface) March 28, 2017

When we’re stereotyped:

#BlackWomenAtWork I corrected a white female coworker, she cried, we ended up in a meeting with management. Mgr said "be nicer if you can". pic.twitter.com/FMDNROIHw2

— Tamz (@tammie_grier) March 28, 2017

"But you're different. You're educated!" @MsPackyetti #BlackWomenAtWork

— Afroanna Puffington (@BabylonSista) March 28, 2017

When our roles are undermined:

Them: "Are you capturing notes?"
Me: "No, but I'm sure the other 2-3 more junior team members in here are . . " #BlackWomenAtWork

— Beige Rage (@cee_pain) March 28, 2017

When we’re sexualized just because: 

https://twitter.com/MsPackyetti/status/846812365207355394

Sound off below on what it’s like for you being a Black woman at work.