Belonging and Personal Aesthetic: An Exploration of Black Women's Narratives in the Workplace

• In Event: Explorations of Identity and Belonging

Abstract

A narrative inquiry of Black women’s experiences in the workplace is completed to uncover their sense of belonging as it relates to their personal aesthetic. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants. Three themes surfaced; Black women have a normalized understanding of what equals a professional appearance, preparatory personal style conversations exist within the Black community, and motherhood motivates resistance to corporate style norms. Discussion around the importance of disrupting the notion of professional attire and the significance of diverse representations in the workplace is provided.

Author

• Jantina N. Anderson, Indiana University - Indianapolis