Ethnography Paper: Are white women more capable of being successful in the workplace compared to African Americans?

Why are black women “less likely” to succeed in business? Why are white women “more likely” to succeed in business? Are black women not as qualified as white women? What makes a black woman “qualified” to be a successful business woman? What makes a white woman “qualified” to be a successful business woman? Are the conditions for a black woman in business the same as for a white woman?

As I researched this dilemma, I came across an article, Women’s History Month 2009: Black women still fighting workplace racism by William Reed. Just with the title, I could tell that “black women are still fighting,” for not just racism, workplace racism. It is very prevalent in the world, today. I wanted to focus on black women vs. white women, (for a lack of better terms), in the workplace. Yes, we have other races, but the two main clashes in the workplace have to be black and white. I did question the validity of my thesis when it came to actually thinking out my issues, questions, direction with this essay. When I set up for the interview process, I included the questions under that topic, which were very hard to come by in this day and age.

I gathered information primarily through Google, Yahoo and other websites. I actually went to the library to look through the history books to help come up with the questions. I added a couple of interviews and equipped the essay with a participant observation.

Interviewees:
-64 year old, African American young lady

How do you feel about black women in the workplace?
I think it is good. They need to be there. They buy they shop in the store and I believe there needs to be “US” represented. There are too many white folks in there. Where we spend our money, we should be able to work. Not just white folks.

Do you believe that black women are qualified to be in the workplace?
Of course they are. They wouldn’t apply for the job if they didn’t think they could do it.

Are white women more qualified than black women to be in the workplace?
NO they are not. They may know a lot more with white bosses and community. They have an “up” on the process, already. They know a lot more whites who have the job that people need. And so we have to go and get the jobs the hard way.

Do you believe there is a time when there is too many black women in a workplace?
No, you can never have too many blacks in the workplace. They never get that chance. They have to have more whites than blacks. They believe white women have more concern for a job than black women.

Do you want to see more black women in the workplace?
Sure, there should be more black people than I see in a workplace. They should be equally dispersed.

Participant Observation:
I observed two individuals; (Subject A) 50 year old African American young lady working in retail and (Subject B) 25 year old White young lady working in retail. I wanted to focus on other mannerisms and actions portrayed by customers/co-workers/management. As I watched, Subject A I noticed that a lot of customers shied away from her register. Some would look for a sale’s associates, see her and go in the opposite direction. Co-Workers were extremely nice to her. I know this has a lot to do with her experience and her age. It is seen as “being respectful”! Now, Subject B, ironically, is the manager over the department Subject A is a part of. She is very rude, obnoxious and not understanding at all. No, I am not passing judgment. I actually used to work under her and so, this is “first-hand” experience. When she walks, she carries herself in an uptight, “stuck-up” manner. This observation, honestly, can not be taken advantage of. This is just one observation. In my opinion, I believe I would have to conduct a lot more observations to support my thesis.
Theorists have said that the “typical” black woman has an attitude and is very rude, while on the other hand, the “typical” white woman has a very quiet demeanor and shy at the same time. The truth found in this case, is that many people have opinions on who is suppose to act what way, but they only thing to do is actually go into a deep research and find the truth. Anthropologists and Sociologists can get more information about this issue on the website,
http://www.sfbayview.com/2009/women%E2%80%99s-history-month-2009-black-women-still-fighting-workplace-racism/

Work

In Belkin's article, "Opt Out," I can see how they came to the conclusion that once women get into the work force and decide to have children, they take a "back-seat" to their jobs. But when you get more in depth with the reading and see that the study was only focused on the elite white women, you get a different understanding. What about the black woman who has to work 2 jobs just to put food on the table and clothes on her children's back or even the black woman who has to give her child up for adoption just so the child will not grow up in her environment and so they both can survive? There are a LOT of different scenarios for everyone, so there is no way to come up with a thesis based on just one portion. It is not ethical.

I believe the responses made to this article were similar to my reaction to the article. It's time to look at America, as a whole and not just the elite white individual as the leading role.

I have experience a black single-mother household. Father was on drugs and we had to move in with my grandmother when I was 5 years old. My mother worked at Wal-Mart ALL day for at least 5 years, until she got a job as a teacher at our local Middle School. I remember waiting up all night on my mom to get home, just so she can tuck my siblings and I into bed. Sometimes, she wouldn't make it in until late and I was the one who had to tuck them in at night. So, no this country girl has not had it easy. Then, when I was 12 or 13, my mom took in 3 of my cousins when their mother passed away. So, now there is a total of 6 kids to one adult. You want to talk about hard times? I wrote the book.

In response to the readings, "Women at Work" is a grand thing! I encourage any and all women to work and not just work, move up in whatever position you are in. Yes, the male can be the head of the household or the dominant figure in society' eyes, but we do not have to sit at the house and cook and clean all day. The world has changed and it is time to step up and express yourself. I am not saying you should neglect your duties at the household, just find a medium and live life to the fullest.

Movie Review

The most recent movie I have seen is "Madea goes to Jail." This movie is funny, but it also tells story. It portrays the real black family in America. Yes, it is an all black cast and in my opinion, it tells the truth about blacks in a way that most black people can relate to. When I read gender into the movie, I noticed that the strong black woman, Madea, is everything that the media says is not typical for an older black woman to be. They also showed a young black woman who was dealing with an issue of prostitution and drugs. She was a very smart young woman. She was in college, making straight A's, etc. So, in my opinion, they collided two images together; the older strong black woman and the younger educated blck prostitute. Throughout the movie, they show the struggles that each had to endure and how one overcame them, while the other tried to avoid them. "Madea goes to Jail," is a very powerful movie. It was advertised with laughs and on black channels, kid's channels and sometimes on game shows. It was not advertised on the Soaps because of the predominantly white community that watches it. I believe the portrayal of black men and women in this movie, were great images for the black community. Usually, the black woman is shown as meek or quiet, but in every one of Tyler Perry's Films there is one black woman that is the REAL essence of THE black woman.

In response to the readings, a couple of topics stood out to me throughout the chapters:
1) In a culture which holds the two-parent patriarchal family in higher concern than any other arrangement, all children feel emotionally insecure when their family does not measure up to the standard.

My response to this is, first, the beginning of this statement sounds as if the "two-parent patriarchal family" is in the wrong for being held in "higher concern than any other arrangement." I am a Christian and with my spiritual upbringing, I believe that the "two-parent patriarchal family" is the plan that God had for every family. When statements were made in the Bible such as, "the man shall head his household as Christ heads the church" and "the man shall find HIS wife." Of course, these are paraphrased, but they were not put in the Bible just to decorate the pages. I believe that the man is the head of the household and he needs to be. Now, the second part of the statement does not have any reign in the majority of single-parent households, which are predominantly black. I am a product of a single black mother household. My mother worked her behind off to keep us on top of our grades, in school, off the streets and away from our father's drug addiction. So, personally, I did not "feel emotionally insecure when [my] family did not measure up to the standard." I believe that if hooks would focus on the black families in America, she would see the truth about single-parent households.

2)Total Bliss: Lesbianism and Feminism

Honestly, I do not believe in rights for lesbians or gay individuals. My spiritual upbringing has told me that men should not lay with me and women should not lay with women. End of story.

3) If women and men want to know love, we have to yearn for feminism. For without feminist thinking and practice we lack the foundation to create loving bonds.

I chose this statement because I disagree. Yes, feminism is important. Yes, Women's rights are important. BUT "if men and women want to know love, we have to yearn for [GOD]!" The Bible says, "God is Love..." , "God is the way, the truth and the light..." , etc. I am a young Black Woman and I appreciate all of the knowledge thrown my way about women, men, feminism, everything, but I have also been faithful to my God for 20 years and I will continue to be faithful for the next 100 or so years, God-willing. So, with all this "feminist thinking and practice...to create loving bonds," I disagree. "All things are possible through Christ," I repeat "through CHRIST." Not through feminist thinking, women's rights, men's rights, African American rights, etc, but "through CHRIST."

I chose this ad because, whenever young African American children are shown in ads or on television, they are portrayed as bad kids. What the media and everyone else needs to realize is that there are more kids, African American to be exact, that are smart and into their books, trying to better their lives and their futures. this young man is thinkin about his plans for the future. This meant a lot to me.

The text, "The question isn't whether they'll soar; it's how high," says it all. This is the greatest advertisement I have seen in a while. Strategy being used by Southwest Airlines is for the young boy to think about his future. This happens to be a scholarship ad, I believe. They are promoting education, which is always great in my books. Now, as far as gender, this goes against all of the stereotypes used in the majority of the ads for black male children. He is actually thinking about his future and not about the streets, he is not belittled by anyone else in the picture and he is the powerful figure in the picture.

In response to the readings, Abortion was the hot topic throughout all of it. Based on my spiritual beliefs, I do not believe that Abortion is necessary, but that is not saying that I just don't like people who do it. Everybody has their reasons and it does not make them a lesser person for having an abortion. I, personally, just do not encourage it. And with the next one, "Beauty within and without," I wish everyone would actually pay attention to it. Including myself. Yes, I know that you are suppose to believe that being beautiful is not all about the outside appearance, but that is not so easy at times.