Impact of objectification on Black women's experiences

Have you ever had someone make an ill comment about your hair, outfit, or appearance at work? These judgments reflect deeper biases in the workplace, and Black women often face more pushback in these areas compared to others. Labeling our hairstyles as “unprofessional” or unfairly judging our body types in typical workwear isn’t just about style. It’s about being pressured to conform to a standard that doesn’t honor our cultural identity. I’ve seen many professionals shrink after experiences like this. And who wouldn’t? When you’re told you don’t belong or that the way you present yourself is wrong, it’s hard not to feel diminished. When workplaces let their implicit bias and racism define professionalism, it will always place marginalized groups at a disadvantage. Even if the comments are subtle they still reinforce the idea that the way we speak, dress, or wear our hair is less professional. Individuality should be celebrated! No one should have to alter our self-expression to fit in. Your personal identity is an important aspect of both your professional and personal life.

"Black women aren't just doing their jobs. They're performing an exhausting one-woman show where the script changes daily." Let me break down what Black women navigate in professional spaces: We don't just choose our words. We filter them through a racial-gender matrix. We don't just speak. We modulate our tone to avoid the "angry" label. We don't just gesture. We control our hand movements to appear "non-threatening." We don't just dress. We calculate every outfit to seem "professional enough." We don't just style our hair. We make political decisions with each hairstyle. This isn't paranoia—it's strategic survival: When we speak directly, we're "aggressive" When we show emotion, we're "unprofessional" When we assert boundaries, we're "difficult" When we seek recognition, we're "entitled" When we express frustration, we're "hostile" The mental load is crushing: • Constantly scanning environments for potential hostility • Preparing responses to microaggressions before they happen • Developing thick skin while remaining "approachable" • Achieving twice as much while appearing humble • Advocating for ourselves without triggering stereotypes Research shows this hypervigilance takes a measurable toll: Black women experience higher rates of stress-related health conditions Black women report the highest levels of "bringing their full selves" to work Black women face the most severe career penalties for authentic self-expression Black women spend more mental energy on workplace navigation than any other group For those working alongside Black women, here are research-backed ways to help: 1. Amplify Black women's ideas and give proper credit 2. Interrupt when you witness tone-policing or stereotyping 3. Question double standards in evaluation and feedback 4. Create space for authentic expression without penalties 5. Recognise the invisible labour Black women perform daily 📢 When they expect us to carry the world, we choose rest 📢 The Black Woman's Rest Revolution offers: ✨ Black women therapists who understand workplace navigation ✨ Bi-weekly healing circles for processing code-switching fatigue ✨ Expert guidance through professional double standards ✨ Global sisterhood that honors our authentic selves Limited spots available Join our revolution: [Link in comments] ⚠️ Check your spam folder for confirmation Because we deserve workplaces where our expertise matters more than our tone. Because our brilliance shouldn't require constant repackaging. Because our professional value shouldn't depend on our likability. #BlackWomenAtWork #WorkplaceNavigation #ProfessionalAuthenticity #RestIsRevolution P.S. I help Black women heal from workplace abuse & racial trauma through revolutionary rest. 📸 Collaboration between Sarah_akinterwa & leaningorg on IG

I once worked in a startup where a guy on my team ambushed me and declared to our open plan office, with his fingers in my hair, that he would be using my afro hair as a stress ball, because my hair was THAT soft, and touching it was THAT relaxing. While everyone found this hilarious, and even assumed I’d appreciate the compliment, I was mortified. I felt extremely unsafe being touched without permission and horrified to be so objectified in front of an audience of my peers. According to HR Dive: The CROWN Coalition, which advocated for the CROWN Act [Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act], said in a 2023 report that Black women’s hair is 2.5 times more likely to be deemed “unprofessional.” Unstraightened, unrelaxed, natural hair is “not as normalized as you think it would be for the majority of individuals,” Michelle Brown, vice president of leadership development for Coqual, told HR Dive. Comments and question about Black hair and hairstyles - in this day and age - should be handled with appropriate awareness and professionalism. And if in doubt… maybe better to hold your tongue (and hands!) #diversity #equity #inclusion #blackhistorymonth

“Opportunity” shouldn’t mean exploitation But for Black women entrepreneurs, it often does Black women get used. Constantly. Yes, Black men also experience this but more often than not, they’re eventually compensated through exposure, paid work, or future opportunities. For Black women, our involvement is too often transactional in only one direction. We are used to: • Make others look good • Protect organizations from accusations of racism • Paint a picture of inclusivity • Distract from the lack of real diversity But rarely are we given real opportunities to grow, benefit, or get paid. These “opportunities” are often framed as chances to “raise our profile” or “share our knowledge.” But in reality, they often mean: • Giving away labor for free • Being strategically placed for optics • Having our presence monetised by others • Being sidelined in the very spaces we helped build We are squeezed out of agendas, told what to say (and what not to), and judged in real-time by people who feel entitled to tell us what we did “wrong.” Often by men. Often under the guise of mentorship, allyship, or “constructive feedback.” It’s exhausting. And it’s rooted in a deeper truth: Black women experience the compounded weight of both racism and misogyny. We suffer twice and are expected to be grateful for it. As an entrepreneur working to equip managers to understand and support neurodivergent talent, I rarely see Black women in the room as paid service providers. Our voices are welcomed when they support an agenda. But not when they ask for equal exchange. It’s not enough to include us visually. It’s time to value us - financially, professionally, and intentionally. #neurodivergenceatwork #autismatwork #adhdatwork