The Adversity Black Women Face

[jucurious]

this thread comes from other post I have seen on the board.

i personally feel the adversity that WOMEN face is kinda under the radar and if it is...it gets lumped into the category of feminist perspective which cause some ppl to not even try to hear it.

but what about being a BLACK women?

and to those ppl who are gonna pull the "this is a woe is me" thread...relax i just want to get some input. being aware and stating them does not mean that your craving sympathy.

what do you face in social, occupational and relational settings? what about other settings?

 

[owl]

Subscribed...

 

[Machete]

this thread comes from other post I have seen on the board.

i personally feel the adversity that WOMEN face is kinda under the radar and if it is...it gets lumped into the category of feminist perspective which cause some ppl to not even try to hear it.

That isn't true, people (women) are speaking out about it all the time. Maybe it was under the radar in the 60's, but now not so much. People (some men) choose to ignore it, and take advantage.

but what about being a BLACK women?

Being Black always makes things worse.

and to those ppl who are gonna pull the "this is a woe is me" thread...

Hate to be a prick, but that irked me.

 

[Blunt]

Good Times and Bad Times for Black Women (brief article)

 

[owl]

Good Times and Bad Times for Black Women (brief article)

Good read...

 

[bigirl]

In business(of which I have participated in many different ones), I had to fight quadruple hard to get my respect just for the simple fact I am a woman. Had to be very careful to never dress to sexy but also to never dress too butch to neither be accused of being a slut nor a dyke. I watched way too many women use their sexuality to get ahead with very bad end results. Generally those who don't go for it are accused of being dykes anyway. Then, people always try to take advantage of a single woman in business so I gotta stay quadruple on point and on guard 24/7/365. I have no clue if any of this would be different if I was a white woman.

 

[jucurious]

That isn't true, people (women) are speaking out about it all the time. Maybe it was under the radar in the 60's, but now not so much. People (some men) choose to ignore it, and take advantage.



Being Black always makes things worse.



Hate to be a prick, but that irked me.

in terms of the women speaking out on it all the time...that's my point. y aren't more men speaking out about it? do they not know? do they not care? is there a social stigma against black men talking about and addressing black women's adversities?

you have black women who talk about black men's adversities all the time...y? cuz it affects thier loved ones which affects them because they have to deal with it when they come home....so y not vice versa?

yeah ur write about being black tends to make things worse...but on the other hand and in some situations, being a woman tends to make things worse.

and you weren't being a prick...thanks for the correction

i appreciate your feedback

 

[jucurious]

Good Times and Bad Times for Black Women (brief article)

thanks for the contribution

here is the article for those who don't feel like clicking...lol


Good and bad times for black women
National Urban League report delves into economic, societal ups and downs
Nightly News special report


updated 12:28 a.m. ET, Wed., March. 5, 2008
NEW YORK - This is a triumphant time for black women: Condoleezza Rice in the global diplomatic spotlight, Michelle Obama captivating campaign crowds as a potential first lady, billionaire Oprah Winfrey playing political kingmaker.

It’s also a traumatic time: Rutgers University basketball players disparaged by radio host Don Imus, a black woman kidnapped and tortured by whites in West Virginia, the home-owning dreams of black women disproportionately dashed by foreclosures.

That remarkable mix is the focus of this year’s State of Black America report, issued Wednesday by the National Urban League. It features essays looking at the array of challenges faced by African-American women: economic, social, psychological and medical.

“The one thing that is certain is the need to hear and amplify the voices of black women,” longtime civil rights activist Dorothy Height writes in the foreword. “Too often, our needs, concerns, struggles, and triumphs are diminished and subordinated to what is believed to be the more pressing concerns of others.”

Julianne Malveaux, the president of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C., contends in the report’s opening essay that the image of black women in popular culture has barely improved in the year since the Imus incident.

White men continue to dominate on TV’s Sunday morning news shows, she writes, while “the gyrating, undulating image of African-American women in rap music videos and, by extension, on cable television is as prevalent as ever.”

Working harder, suffering more
The report delves deeply into economics, noting that black women are more likely than white or Hispanic women to be running a household and raising children on their own. According to Malveaux, black women hold more jobs nationwide than black men, yet — despite their breadwinner roles — earn less on average, $566 a week compared to $629 for black men.

In an essay about the home loan crisis, Andrea Harris, president of the North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development, suggests that black women have suffered disproportionately. Assessing recent federal data on subprime loans, which are a main culprit in the foreclosure epidemic, Harris says black women received far more of these loans in 2006 than white men.

“It is easy to imagine the devastation that is headed toward African-American women and their communities,” Harris writes.

An essay by Dr. Doris Browne, a public health expert, details the above-average rates of cancer, diabetes and heart disease among black women.

On the success path
On an upbeat note, former Labor Secretary Alexis Herman notes in her essay that black women are making huge strides as entrepreneurs. The number of businesses owned by them increased by 147 percent between 1997 and 2006, compared to an overall business growth rate of 24 percent, she wrote.

Another of the essayists, Melanie Campbell of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, said in an interview that disparities in health care and economics are the paramount issues for black women as the election campaign unfolds.

Exit polling shows that black women have become a larger force within the Democratic electorate compared to 2004, and Campbell said their expectations for policy changes also are rising.

“We want to go beyond being thought about,” she said. “We want action.”

'Backbone of the black family'
The president of the Urban League, a 98-year-old black empowerment organization, hailed women as “the backbone of the black family” — constantly surmounting obstacles. Marc Morial called for expansion of programs that would assist black women in starting businesses, protect more of them from predatory lending schemes, and provide more of them with affordable, high-quality child care.

“When black women hurt, the American family suffers,” Morial wrote. “But by uplifting black women, especially those struggling hardest to keep their families together and their dreams on track, we lift up every American community.”

A year ago, the Urban League focused its State of Black America report on the difficulties facing many young black men, including their high rates of crime and imprisonment. This year’s theme was welcomed by black women who believe their particular concerns often are overlooked.

“I’m heartened that we’re delving into this issue in depth in a way that we haven’t in the past,” said Avis Jones-DeWeever, a public policy expert with the National Council of Negro Women.

“For us, it’s two steps forward, one step back,” she added. “But we do have a lot to be proud of.”

 

[Machete]

I have no clue if any of this would be different if I was a white woman.

Neither do I, but according to white woman it's true.

in terms of the women speaking out on it all the time...that's my point. y aren't more men speaking out about it? do they not know? do they not care?

I do speak out on certain things, for example: my sister's ex-husband will talk to my sister like she's a dog. But when I'm around, he's a lot more respectful, I had to approach him about that a number of times. I see a few men that have that attitude towards women. It play out in a number of ways: getting screwed when they go to a mechanic (seen it happen), harassed in the office,

is there a social stigma against black men talking about and addressing black women's adversities?

you have black women who talk about black men's adversities all the time...y? cuz it affects thier loved ones which affects them because they have to deal with it when they come home....so y not vice versa?

I think there are a number of reasons for that. Obviously some men discuss these types of issues. Those that don't, are usually the ones who don't care about the issues that affect their community. They worried about the latest shirt/sneaker/movie/game/club/bar etc. Then you also have to consider that men aren't "talkers", in most cases men will be about actions. Trying to solve the problems, instead of talking about them. If there's no solution available, we don't want to talk about it. It gets frustrating.

Also, as a man, if the situation isn't relevant most likely it won't cross my mind. I never started thinking about issues that affected women, until I saw my sisters have children and watched them struggle to make ends meet. Never thought about these issues, till I started to teach, and watching some of my female students wondering about the issues that they would face growing up.

thanks for the contribution

here is the article for those who don't feel like clicking...lol



The president of the Urban League, a 98-year-old black empowerment organization, hailed women as “the backbone of the black family”

It's sad that this statement is true, too many black men aren't taking care of their children.

 

[owl]

Right now Tyler Perry is probably the greatest advocate that black women have in Amerikkka today. Some one is going to argue that, it's bgol-lite, but think on that. Right now, he is the only person you can gain an understanding of black women's crisis, and not just the stereotypic "hand-waving, loud talking" black women that has become the caricature of the black urban female, but real archetypes that display the thinking patterns of all of the classes.

Outside of that, black women's issues have been relegated to "AIDS and the Black Woman", and the real spooky one for some of you cats,"The Black Single MOTHER"...whooooooooooooo....lol..

But even those have been greatly overshadowed by "the young black male". The prison population of black woman increasing has been touched on, but never like the drug epidemic, the gang migrations, and our overwhelming disparities inside prisons.

I wish Sista Soujah would hurry up and write another book, y'all need another classic...

 

[jucurious]

I think there are a number of reasons for that. Obviously some men discuss these types of issues. Those that don't, are usually the ones who don't care about the issues that affect their community. They worried about the latest shirt/sneaker/movie/game/club/bar etc. Then you also have to consider that men aren't "talkers", in most cases men will be about actions. Trying to solve the problems, instead of talking about them. If there's no solution available, we don't want to talk about it. It gets frustrating.

Also, as a man, if the situation isn't relevant most likely it won't cross my mind. I never started thinking about issues that affected women, until I saw my sisters have children and watched them struggle to make ends meet. Never thought about these issues, till I started to teach, and watching some of my female students wondering about the issues that they would face growing up.

how are you supposed to get a solution to a problem that people aren't willing to talk about? there solutions available. we can't just ignore problems b/c of the frustration that problem solving brings....but first ppl have to believe that there is a problem.

how can we make our issues as black women more relevant to black men?

 

[bigirl]

how can we make our issues as black women more relevant to black men?

the thing is many men are reaping benefits from it so they most certainly do not want to discuss it

 

[jucurious]

biggity bump bump bump

 

[Machete]

the thing is many men are reaping benefits from it so they most certainly do not want to discuss it

Can't be black men. On the whole black women are better off than black men.

 

[bigirl]

Can't be black men. On the whole black women are better off than black men.

there are a great many black men recieving blow jobs and pussy subjugating black women in the business sector. a great many white men too. they all making alot more $ then us too and if we won't play that we either make even less or get nothing at all.

 

[Machete]

there are a great many black men recieving blow jobs and pussy subjugating black women in the business sector. a great many white men too. they all making alot more $ then us too and if we won't play that we either make even less or get nothing at all.

statistically, black women hold more jobs in the business sector. so if there are black men "subjugating" black women, there aren't many.

 

[bigirl]

statistically, black women hold more jobs in the business sector. so if there are black men "subjugating" black women, there aren't many.

Music business?

 

[Machete]

Music business?

I'm talking about all businesses. If you want to spotlight the music business, considering all the video hoes: they "subjugate" themselves.

 

[bigirl]

I'm talking about all businesses. If you want to spotlight the music business, considering all the video hoes: they "subjugate" themselves.

Its been going on long before videos even existed and at all levels of the game. It goes on in financial sector, in law firms and all over the place.

 

[black again]

how are you supposed to get a solution to a problem that people aren't willing to talk about? there solutions available. we can't just ignore problems b/c of the frustration that problem solving brings....but first ppl have to believe that there is a problem.

how can we make our issues as black women more relevant to black men?

I am the son of, the brother of , the father of a Black woman. Their issues are my issues. I've experienced everything from the birth of one to the death of one who was close to me. Thru them and their friends, and friends of friends I've learned to become part of the solution and do what I can, when I can. And you're correct. Awareness must be raised, just like it's important to raise it for so many other things, overall.
People will either learn to work out their problems together, or not at all.

 

[followup]

what do you face in social, occupational and relational settings? what about other settings?

Being a professional black woman is hard for me because as soon as I walk into a room, everyone is expecting me to be a stereotype. The angry black woman, the ignorant black woman, the "reverse racism" black woman, the single unfit mother. A white woman could walk in and it's automatic respect, and oh she must be so brilliant. But with me I always have to prove myself. I also have a problem with social situations where I'm the only black woman. People ask me dumb stuff, or if I say something that is normal to me but different to them they will laugh at me. The thing about it is that I stopped trying to "fit in" or "blend in" with women of other colors a long time ago, but that comes with it's consequences. The only time I get annoyed is when one of the others tries to compare the woman's movement to the civil rights movement. I feel like black women are forced to think of themselves as black first, women second. Whereas white women only think of themselves as women.

 

[jucurious]

I am the son of, the brother of , the father of a Black woman. Their issues are my issues. I've experienced everything from the birth of one to the death of one who was close to me. Thru them and their friends, and friends of friends I've learned to become part of the solution and do what I can, when I can. And you're correct. Awareness must be raised, just like it's important to raise it for so many other things, overall.
People will either learn to work out their problems together, or not at all.

<---- i really did that

anyway


what are some of the problem that you have found solutions for? if you don't mind sharing.

also, how can we raise awareness in your opinion?

 

[jucurious]

Being a professional black woman is hard for me because as soon as I walk into a room, everyone is expecting me to be a stereotype. The angry black woman, the ignorant black woman, the "reverse racism" black woman, the single unfit mother. A white woman could walk in and it's automatic respect, and oh she must be so brilliant. But with me I always have to prove myself. I also have a problem with social situations where I'm the only black woman. People ask me dumb stuff, or if I say something that is normal to me but different to them they will laugh at me. The thing about it is that I stopped trying to "fit in" or "blend in" with women of other colors a long time ago, but that comes with it's consequences. The only time I get annoyed is when one of the others tries to compare the woman's movement to the civil rights movement. I feel like black women are forced to think of themselves as black first, women second. Whereas white women only think of themselves as women.

sooooooo true

because in this country male and white are the defaults.

what annoys you about the comparison of the women's movement to the civil rights movement? i mean there were some similiarities between the movement and other movements...hell King was assassinated during a labor movement march.

black women's issues with the movement were/are very interesting.

some women left the black power movement becuase thier issues as black women weren't being addressed. they went to the women's movement and left because thier issues as being black weren't being addressed.....soooooo that is when they started their own black women's movement

 

[xfactor]

I disagree with most of your post but the bold part really stood out -

Being a professional black woman is hard for me because as soon as I walk into a room, everyone is expecting me to be a stereotype. The angry black woman, the ignorant black woman, the "reverse racism" black woman, the single unfit mother. A white woman could walk in and it's automatic respect, and oh she must be so brilliant. But with me I always have to prove myself. I also have a problem with social situations where I'm the only black woman. People ask me dumb stuff, or if I say something that is normal to me but different to them they will laugh at me. The thing about it is that I stopped trying to "fit in" or "blend in" with women of other colors a long time ago, but that comes with it's consequences. The only time I get annoyed is when one of the others tries to compare the woman's movement to the civil rights movement. I feel like black women are forced to think of themselves as black first, women second. Whereas white women only think of themselves as women.

Based on the vibes you let off, I think that their pre-judged assessment of you would be 100% accurate. People always want to look at others as being part of the problem, when they need to be looking at themselves first.

 

[LoneStar29]

I disagree with most of your post but the bold part really stood out -



Based on the vibes you let off, I think that their pre-judged assessment of you would be 100% accurate. People always want to look at others as being part of the problem, when they need to be looking at themselves first.

Don't even bother addressing this one followupit's not worth your time

 

[Izayoi]

Being a professional black woman is hard for me because as soon as I walk into a room, everyone is expecting me to be a stereotype. The angry black woman,....Whereas white women only think of themselves as women.

People always want to look at others as being part of the problem, when they need to be looking at themselves first.

Looking objectively we need to address this along side the issues of white privilege creating a hostile work environment. Its difficult to balance projections of self when yt creates an environment that baits us to live down to stereotypes.
I have not always been successful NOT being angry but we need to check that. Not losing our sense of self while maintaining a professional identity.

As a friend said to me once " You might not want to hear it but it is true, nothing wrong with it, but you have to prove to them you can take it." Its sad its that way, but it is what it is. When I keep a check on my attitude, things get a lot less hectic.

White women catch hell in the workplace too in my experience. They complain more than black women and white men in general are unapologetic misogynists!
If you have a pussy, they will objectify you.

 

[followup]

Don't even bother addressing this one followupit's not worth your time

LOL!
If you hadn't quoted him I wouldn't have even known he posted something to me. All I can say is nobody can discount my experiences. I've been at this for a long time (I'm 29). I'll get back to your other Q about women's mvmt vs. civil rights a little later today

 

[jucurious]

bump

 

[Fuckallyall]

Most women (just like most men) make thier own disasters. They irresponsibly have children, ignore the character flaws in thier mates, underestimate the rigors of adulthood, and then blame others for thier lives being stressful. The racism the vast majority of us face is absolutely nothing in comparison to what our forefathers suffered. We bitch and moan about white people not liking us, or worry about what they think, or make the outcomes of our efforts the resonsibility of white people. I think it's bullshit. Especially considering that very few of us can come up with any specific evidence of actually being a victim of racism, and it negatively affecting your efforts to be sucessful. Black women have made gains in every single professional endevor. And where they haven't, it's usually because they choose not to. And that's ok, as choice is what's the prize. For example, the higher the education level past undergrad, the less likely it is for the woman to work full time. Why ? because she chooses not to. Read this book called the Geneder Gap? Very informative.

 

[jucurious]

Most women (just like most men) make thier own disasters. They irresponsibly have children, ignore the character flaws in thier mates, underestimate the rigors of adulthood, and then blame others for thier lives being stressful. The racism the vast majority of us face is absolutely nothing in comparison to what our forefathers suffered. We bitch and moan about white people not liking us, or worry about what they think, or make the outcomes of our efforts the resonsibility of white people. I think it's bullshit. Especially considering that very few of us can come up with any specific evidence of actually being a victim of racism, and it negatively affecting your efforts to be sucessful. Black women have made gains in every single professional endevor. And where they haven't, it's usually because they choose not to. And that's ok, as choice is what's the prize. For example, the higher the education level past undergrad, the less likely it is for the woman to work full time. Why ? because she chooses not to. Read this book called the Geneder Gap? Very informative.

thanks for your opinion


now there are sOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many things i would want to address with this but i want to give someone else a stab at it. i dont want this to be a thread of just me and a few...everyone join and be honest

 

[PrincessC]

this thread comes from other post I have seen on the board.

i personally feel the adversity that WOMEN face is kinda under the radar and if it is...it gets lumped into the category of feminist perspective which cause some ppl to not even try to hear it.

but what about being a BLACK women?

and to those ppl who are gonna pull the "this is a woe is me" thread...relax i just want to get some input. being aware and stating them does not mean that your craving sympathy.

what do you face in social, occupational and relational settings? what about other settings?

I work in finance for a major corporation. My name is very generic, and I will never forget the look on the interviewer's face when I walked in. He had to be shocked that I was a black girl. When I was hired and I met the rest of the group (I am the only woman), the old white men were very surprised but "pleased" with how well spoken and articulate I was, how quickly I learned, and how hard of a worker I am, even though my qualifications, internships, and educational background on my resume should have been their first clue that I would be all of the above. I know they expected something else.

It's already hard to be a woman working in finance. It's a field dominated by men; old white men at that (at least in my company). I have to fight two different stereotypes. It's a battle every day.

 

[black again]

<---- i really did that

anyway


what are some of the problem that you have found solutions for? if you don't mind sharing.

also, how can we raise awareness in your opinion?

I've been able to help in small ways. Fortunately, I'm in a position to influence who gets hired and which vendors my company uses and other lil things.
It's funny, I was joking with my mom, just the other day about how many minority companies, services, & women's companies I've given work to...and I ain't talkin just skrippas. But, that's just one small thing. EVERYONE has a part to play in this. For some, it might just be giving proper respect to women. For others, it may be something on a very public scale.
As far as raising awareness, doing what YOU did reached thousands of people, potentially. It obviously affected some and made them think.

 

[followup]

When I was hired and I met the rest of the group (I am the only woman), the old white men were very surprised but "pleased" with how well spoken and articulate I was, how quickly I learned, and how hard of a worker I am, even though my qualifications, internships, and educational background on my resume should have been their first clue that I would be all of the above. I know they expected something else.

It's already hard to be a woman working in finance. It's a field dominated by men; old white men at that (at least in my company). I have to fight two different stereotypes. It's a battle every day.

You better preach about it!!!

Most women (just like most men) make thier own disasters. They irresponsibly have children, ignore the character flaws in thier mates, underestimate the rigors of adulthood, and then blame others for thier lives being stressful. The racism the vast majority of us face is absolutely nothing in comparison to what our forefathers suffered. We bitch and moan about white people not liking us, or worry about what they think, or make the outcomes of our efforts the resonsibility of white people. I think it's bullshit. Especially considering that very few of us can come up with any specific evidence of actually being a victim of racism, and it negatively affecting your efforts to be sucessful. Black women have made gains in every single professional endevor. And where they haven't, it's usually because they choose not to. And that's ok, as choice is what's the prize. For example, the higher the education level past undergrad, the less likely it is for the woman to work full time. Why ? because she chooses not to. Read this book called the Geneder Gap? Very informative.

Most people make their own disasters (intentional or not), but you absolutely can not deny that there is a glass ceiling for gender and for race in most fields.

what annoys you about the comparison of the women's movement to the civil rights movement? i mean there were some similiarities between the movement and other movements

The main issue I have is that white women really only have to deal with being women. Black women have to deal with being black and being a woman. Two separate issues with very different responses. I would say in most societies in the world, women enjoy a second class status. It probably has to do with us being the weaker sex in general. But the main problem I see is when a woman proves that she has at least the same mental capacity, intelligence, and discipline as a man in the workplace, she's still gonna be #2 most of the time.

So back to your original question. White women growing up enjoy white privilege for as long as they can. When they become professionals and hit the glass ceiling, then they start to get a taste of discrimination and they don't like it. Then they want to rally all of their "sisters" of different colors to unite for the cause. But where were they before? Not thinking about Tasha or Jesenia or Nguyen.

Black PEOPLE in this country have been fighting an uphill battle from day one. Men and women have been going through it since forever. And for those of us who grew up in the inner city, we start out behind and have a lot of ground to make up if we decide to enter a white collar profession. For some people it's insurmountable and they do something else. For others it's a constant race to prove and be better than. And that's just off of skin color. Then for black women you add on all of the gender issues. I really feel like black women are considered the least intelligent and most ignorant people in this country, and that is a hard stereotype to break when you have to deal with people who don't know any black folks personally.

some women left the black power movement becuase thier issues as black women weren't being addressed. they went to the women's movement and left because thier issues as being black weren't being addressed.....soooooo that is when they started their own black women's movement

I think that our problem as black women is that we try to forget that we are black women and try to be just women. But our whole existence and exposure in life is based on the fact that we are black women. We can't ever get confused and try to unite with women of other colors before we unite amongst ourselves & with our men.

 

[LeroyDibiase]

I disagree with most of your post but the bold part really stood out -



Based on the vibes you let off, I think that their pre-judged assessment of you would be 100% accurate. People always want to look at others as being part of the problem, when they need to be looking at themselves first.

[Kayslay]DAMN-MN-MN[/Kayslay]

 

[followup]

[Kayslay]DAMN-MN-MN[/Kayslay]

Awwww LD. I expected more from you. Something like "internet personalities are not real life". Don't you find it odd that someone I have never even exchanged a comment with here on BGOL, talk less of in person, is so accurately able to judge my personality?

Oh yeah. Thread title "The Adversity Black Women Face". Not "Who do black women blame their problems on"