CARSON, Calif., March 6, 2025 -- The California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute (CABWCEI) has released a powerful new report, Invisible Labor, Visible Struggles: The Intersections of Race, Gender, and Workplace Equity for Black Women in California. Co-authored by Dr. Sharon Uche and Kellie Todd Griffin, this research provides an in-depth analysis of the systemic barriers Black women face in the workplace, highlighting urgent calls for reform.
The study, conducted in partnership with EVITARUS, surveyed 452 employed Black women across California, revealing significant challenges, including workplace discrimination, wage disparities, microaggressions, lack of access to leadership roles, and the psychological toll of navigating inequitable work environments.
Kellie Todd Griffin, President and CEO of the California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute underscored the importance of this report, stating:
"For decades, Black women have been the backbone of industries, communities, and movements—yet we continue to be undervalued, underpaid, and overlooked in the workplace. The data is clear: systemic racism and sexism are not just historical injustices; they are active forces shaping the workplace experiences of Black women today. This report is a call to action—one that demands intentional policies, corporate accountability, and systemic change."
Key Findings:
- Widespread Discrimination: 60% of Black women reported experiencing workplace racism or discrimination in the past year, impacting their career advancement and overall job satisfaction.
- Lack of Leadership Representation: Black women remain significantly underrepresented in executive and senior leadership roles, with only 21% believing they have strong opportunities for advancement in California's job market.
- Pay Inequity: Black women continue to earn significantly less than their white and male counterparts, even when holding similar qualifications and roles.
- Workplace Culture and Mental Health: Over half of respondents reported feeling undervalued at work, with 57% feeling excluded from key opportunities due to racial and gender biases.
Moving from Data to Action:
CABWCEI is calling on policymakers, corporate leaders, and community organizations to implement meaningful changes, including:
- Legislative Action: Enforcing pay equity, expanding anti-discrimination protections, and ensuring workplace accountability.
- Corporate Responsibility: Implementing transparent hiring and promotion policies, investing in Black women's leadership development, and eliminating bias in workplace culture.
- Community Investment: Supporting Black women entrepreneurs, funding workforce development initiatives, and prioritizing economic security for Black families.
"The time for performative allyship has passed," added Todd Griffin. "This report provides a roadmap for employers, legislators, and advocates to take real, measurable steps toward equity. If Black women are expected to be the driving force in the workplace, we must be afforded the dignity, compensation, and leadership opportunities we deserve."
Based on the results, CABWCEI calls on policy makers to develop legislative proposals to address the issues.
- Strengthening Wage Equity & Economic Security
- Black Women's Pay Equity Act – Require annual pay audits disaggregated by race, gender, and job classification for companies with 50 or more employees, with penalties for wage disparities not addressed within two years.
- Salary Transparency Expansion – Lower the pay range disclosure threshold to companies with five or more employees and mandate internal salary bands to prevent discriminatory pay practices.
- Black Women's Economic Mobility Fund – Establish a state-funded grant program to support Black women entrepreneurs, business owners, and cooperative enterprises, prioritizing industries where Black women face the greatest barriers.
- Eliminating Workplace Discrimination & Harassment
- CROWN Act Expansion & Enforcement – Extend the CROWN Act by requiring all California-based companies with over 25 employees to incorporate anti-hair discrimination policies into their legally mandated gender and racial discrimination training.
- Zero-Tolerance Workplace Harassment Act – Strengthen protections against race and gender-based harassment, including third-party accountability mechanisms, automatic civil penalties for repeat offenders, and whistleblower protections for Black women reporting discrimination.
- Restorative Workplace Justice Initiative – Mandate state-funded workplace mediation programs that offer Black women access to legal support, career recovery resources, and trauma-informed dispute resolution when workplace discrimination occurs.
- Expanding Leadership & Career Advancement Opportunities
- Black Women's Leadership Pipeline Act – Require all state-funded and state-contracted companies to report on the representation of Black women in executive and senior leadership roles, with incentives for companies that implement mentorship and leadership development programs for Black women.
- State-Funded Childcare for Black Women – Establish childcare stipends for Black women professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders to reduce barriers to executive advancement.
To read the full report and more legislative and non-legislative proposals, visit www.cablackwomenscollective.org/research.
About the California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute
The California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic empowerment of Black women and girls across California. Through research, policy advocacy, and leadership development, CABWCEI works to dismantle systemic barriers and create pathways to success for Black women at all levels.
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