Black Women in Finance

The concept of gender has long played a role in United States’ history, greatly impacting and restructuring our economy. The push for gender equality in America has altered how organizations operate across different occupational fields. While the 2020 Equal Rights Amendment has yet to pass, many organizations are still motivated to reach total gender equality and balance within their firms. While there is a fight for feminism and gender equality, it is not a racially inclusive one. Black women face the most discrimination both in the workplace, and in social settings. Misogynoir is defined as prejudice against Black women, highlighting the ways in which they are oppressed in both gender and race. Moya Bailey, an African American feminist scholar and activist, coined the term because misogyny did not encompass the insufferable anti-blackness Black women were experiencing, due to hyper focus on the prejudices against white women. Many organizations and industries in the United States have made targeted efforts towards achieving a more gender balanced employee base, except one. The finance industry seems to be one of the last racially divided and gendered institutions. Women’s role within economic organizations are the least represented in comparison to all other occupations. Black women specifically, represent an even smaller percentage. To better understand how gender plays a role within this industry, it is imperative to analyze the political and economic history regarding the structure of financial institutions. The aim of this paper is to address and better understand the factors that restrict Black women from entering, staying, and succeeding within the finance industry