Almost 48pc of black women in science and technology report having been mistaken for administrative or custodial staff, according to Joan C. Williams of the University of California. Interviews with 60 female scientists and surveys with 557 others found that women of colour often have to face isolation. Only 56pc of black women say women in their work environments support each other, and in interviews, it was mostly black women who reported that engaging socially with colleagues negatively affects whether they’re perceived as competent.

(Source: HBR.org)

Published in Dawn, Business & Finance weekly, October 5th , 2015

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