Women in Leadership - the Intersection of Race and Gender

The juncture of gender and race is not an emerging issue in leadership and management; rather it is an intersectionality predominantly overlooked in preference of frameworks which define and address these equity areas... [ view full abstract ]

The juncture of gender and race is not an emerging issue in leadership and management; rather it is an intersectionality predominantly overlooked in preference of frameworks which define and address these equity areas separately, thus ignoring the rich complexity of identity and failing to provide an exploration of the pertinent challenges faced by leaders who are an amalgamation of both. Essentially, when researchers write about ‘women and leadership’ they are invariably taking a ‘colour-blind’ approach and avoiding addressing concepts through a racial-ethnic minority lens, thus creating a narrative where dominant views are held as being applicable to all. This presentation, drawing on the notion of 'you can't be what you can't see' - examines limited contemporary research in Australia, America and the UK that is focused on black and minority ethnic (BAME) women in leadership and management. It will explore the need for intersectionality; leader/follower career strategies utilised; racialised sexism; kinship and the tyranny of silence, to contribute to the discussion of gender in its multiplicity.