Document Type
Report
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Disciplines
Inequality and Stratification | Race and Ethnicity | Work, Economy and Organizations
Abstract
This report presents valuable insights of the lived experiences of women of colour in the labour market in southwest Ireland. Their voices articulate a perceived double challenge of being both female and persons of colour, challenges not shared by male persons of colour or generally by white persons in organizations. Some of these challenges arise from misunderstandings, unwarranted preconceptions, conscious and unconscious biases, but sometimes from an insensitive blending of racist and misogynist attitudes. The importance of educating the wider labour market, and society in general, to the sensitivities of these employees is apparent from this report. Proactive implementation of positive organizational policies was also espoused by the interviewed employers. These employers recounted how they make extra efforts to make their workplaces more inviting for these employees. As well as reaching out with extra supports to genuinely support the wellbeing of these employees, the employers acknowledge that a better and happier work environment contributes to improved work outcomes, including greater staff retention. This report provides a positive contribution to stakeholders in the overall labour market by highlighting first-hand perspectives of women of colour in employment contexts. As well as contributing to the literature and providing practice-led policy recommendations, this report can usefully be shared by talent management staff and human resource managers during induction training and as a contribution to continual personal development.
Recommended Citation
Linehan, M. and Dr Corina Sheerin (2023). The Black Ceiling: Employment Experiences of Women of Colour in Southwest Ireland. [online] Cork: Munster Technological University. Available at: http://doi.org/10.34719/VUZY6228
Included in
Inequality and Stratification Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Work, Economy and Organizations Commons
Publication Details
Commissioned by The Phoenix Women’s Centre and SHED.
This project has received funding from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Grants Scheme as part of the Commission's statutory power to provide grants to promote human rights and equality under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.