Black women are forced to change their behavior, and in many cases their names, due to widespread structural racism in the workplace, a new study has found.
Three-quarters of black women have experienced some form of racism at work, while just over a quarter face racial insults, according to a significant report by the Fawcett Society and the Runnymede Trust.
The organizations surveyed 2,000 black and Asian women and more than 1,000 white women in the United Kingdom, highlighting the problem of workplace culture.
The majority of women of color believe that they have to somehow hide their identity at work, with more than 60% changing their language, hairstyle, clothes or diet to fit in.
More than half of Muslim and black African women say they have changed the clothes they wear to work, while a quarter of those with Indian heritage say they have changed their name.
The survey also found persistent barriers to career development, with more than half of women of color reporting discrimination in the application or interview process, and 42% saying they had been promoted.
“Black women face a double danger,” said Halima Begum, CEO of Runnymede Trust. “From school to the workplace, there are structural barriers that stand between them and the opportunities they deserve.
“They know first-hand the myth of meritocracy, from the mental gymnastics of constant code switching to multiple promotions.”
About a third of Pakistan, Bangladeshi and Indian heritage respondents said a manager had actively blocked their progress. This compared to 20% of white British women.
The report calls on the government to force companies with more than 50 employees to publish data on the ethnic pay gap it resists, leading to accusations that it lacks the “will or care” to create a fairer and more equitable society.
In 2018, the Ministry of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy launched a consultation that said: “The government believes it is time to move to mandatory reporting of ethnicity pay.”
The consultation ended in January 2019, but the government has not yet published a response.
The report also calls on all employers to implement anti-racism plans, including the publication of salaries in all job advertisements and to stop asking candidates for their previous salaries.
Jemima Olchauxi, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said colored women had been detained and forced to hide their identities.
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“What a waste of time and energy for these women,” she said. “We need jobs that respect and celebrate everyone’s individuality and allow women to focus on attracting their talents to the workforce. Given the lack of skills and manpower, this is a loss of potential that we cannot afford. ”
In response, Caroline Knox, the conservative chair of the Committee on Women and Equality, called for “positive action by the government”.
“It’s really shocking when you hear about women who feel obligated to change their name just to keep working, and when you hear about the level of racist abuse that still exists in the workplace,” she said.
“This requires positive action from the government. It is not enough to say that we are creating more opportunities for everyone. We need to focus on these opportunities to make sure that equalization is not just about geography or north and south. ”
A government spokesman said: “Our inclusive action plan for the UK sets out plans to build a fairer and more inclusive society, including the promotion of fairness in the workplace and action to tackle ethnic pay gaps.
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