Our Research
As part of the CA Black Women’s Think Tank, housed at California State University, Dominguez Hills, our Research and Innovation Institute is dedicated to uncovering solutions that uplift the economic and social well-being of Black women, girls, and all Black Californians. This research fuels smarter policies, deeper conversations, and effective programs—driving lasting change where it’s needed most.
Invisible Labor, Visible Struggles: The Intersections of Race, Gender, and Workplace Equity for Black Women
in California
Empowering Black Women in the Workforce Starts with Listening—and Action
Black women have long faced the compounded challenges of race and gender discrimination—not just in society, but within the very systems that shape our economic mobility and professional growth.
At the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CABWCEI), we believe it’s time to shift from simply naming the problem to actively driving solutions.
The workplace remains a battleground for equity, where systemic barriers too often:
.png){kind=small}
Restrict access to meaningful opportunities
Hinder career advancement
Erode dignity and well-belling
To better understand and dismantle these obstacles, CABWCEI partnered with EVITARUS, a premier public opinion research and strategy firm. Together, we launched a groundbreaking survey to center the voices and lived experiences of Black women across California.
In December 2024, we engaged 452 employed Black women across the state to share their stories, challenges, and triumphs on the job. The findings are helping shape policies, programs, and advocacy that drive real change—not just for today, but for the generations to come.
Because when Black women thrive in the workplace, our communities and economy thrive too.
Workplace Discrimination as a Structural Barrier
1
Workplace discrimination is not just an inconvenience—it is a systemic barrier that actively impedes career advancement and access to job opportunities.
🔹 Biased hiring practices
🔹 Unequal pay
🔹 Lack of mentorship and sponsorship
Even as Black women work twice as hard to advance, these structures continue to exclude and marginalize them.
Stereotypes and microaggressions are not just everyday slights—they are racialized and gendered violence that harm mental and physical health.
The constant expectation to counteract biases creates a workplace culture that is exhausting, dehumanizing,
and unsustainable.
The Toll of Stereotypes & Microaggressions
2
3
Power, Privilege & Leadership Exclusion
The dynamics between Black women and white/Latino leadership in the workplace are shaped by power, privilege, and exclusion.
-- Leadership often does not reflect Black women’s
lived experiences
- Lack of advocacy and support makes advancement
even harder
Creating equitable workplaces is not just theoretical—it is a necessity.
✅ Eliminate race and gender-based discrimination
✅ Ensure Black women have access to leadership roles
✅ Dismantle exclusionary structures
Equity cannot be a buzzword—it must be a deliberate, sustained commitment to justice
4
Workplace Equity Must Be an Urgent Commitment
5
Beauty Standards & Economic Violence
Societal beauty standards impose exclusionary norms that:
❌ Force Black women to conform to professionalism rooted in anti-Blackness
❌ Erode mental and social well-being
❌ Demand assimilation at the cost of career advancement
This is economic violence—requiring Black women to choose between authenticity and opportunity.
Other Research
Top 100 & Industry Reports
State of Black Women in CA
The Top 100 report evaluates and tracks diversity at the top 100 companies headquartered in California. It looks at the executive leadership and the board of directors to determine the number of Black Women, Women and Black Men who serve in those roles as it relates to their overall leadership make-up. The report is released annually. In addition, the Empowerment Institute issues industry reports that focuses on traditional and non-traditional roles. It outlines wage and demographic information of Black Women in the field compared to their female counterparts in California.
State of Black Women in CA reports focus on critical issues impacting Black Women and the Black Community including political participation; work and family; health and wellness; employment and earnings; poverty and opportunity; education; violence and safety; and Black Women and aging.
Reports
California Women's Labor Report
Each month, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute releases its analysis of the labor market data on the employment situation of Black women workers across the state of California. The data compares Black Women in California’s employment rate verses their female counterparts as well as the overall state employment rate based on the data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.