Emotional Labor: The Burden That Black Women Carry to Survive

Can we talk about the unpaid labor that Black women in  the workplace (especially but not limited to corporate settings) are burdened with? …

Emotional  labor which I also like to refer to as, Emotional Slave Labor is the work that an individual does  to maintain a relationship or position, be it personal or professional. It often requires one to manage and regulate their emotions to meet the demands of their circumstances or  accommodate others who aren’t doing the same (if any) EL. So often, and without request,  might I add, Black women are burdened with the emotional labor of processing  microaggressions (work) and then regulating emotions to fit into their roles within corporate  settings (more work). Having to constantly look happy for the appeasement of others, be  empathetic for things you don’t care about, or express emotions and feelings that are not  necessary for the successful completion of your job can lead to performance anxiety and  burnout.  

Emotional labor is often required for service-centered jobs, caregiving, and other client-facing  positions but the added labor experienced by black women is much higher. It requires that the  laborer constrains and dismisses their feelings for the comfort of others. Black women  unwillingly enter these agreements to avoid being the center of unwanted attention. When  Black women experience this kind of hyper-visibility and invisibility simultaneously, it can lead  to stress with eventual physical and mental health implications. It often feels like everyone  wants our rhythm but never our blues, leaving Black women with the emotional burden.  Authors like Zora Neale Hurston wrote about the loads carried by Black women in the 1930s. It  has been nearly 100 years, and still, we remain seen and ignored as the “mule of the world”  (1937/1998).  

What Black Women Have to Say  

Some studies like one conducted in 2011 by Durr and Harvey Wingfield, speak about the  challenges Black women face when forced into emotional labor as a way of surviving PW  workspaces. Many women report anxiety and exhaustion after having endured either verbal or  non-verbal exchanges with their white colleagues where they are often picked apart and then  leaned on and expected to perform above and beyond to get a “meets expectations” at the  end of the year. I have spoken with Black women over the years about how they have  experienced unwanted advances for “friendship” outside of work and when they refused, were  the source of weaponized anger caused by the fragility of their colleagues after the audacity of  the laborer’s boundaries and autonomy. Rarely ever was the colleague reprimanded for  creating hostile work environments and in fact, some studies have shown that racism exhibited  by white co-workers was rewarded. Research conducted by Berdahl & Bhattacharyya as  recently as (2024) showed specifically that when white women engaged in anti-black and  otherwise racist behaviors, they were in fact rewarded with higher status than those who didn’t  participate. 

What Black Women Can Do To Empower Themselves 

Set Clear and Firm Boundaries  

It is important that black women set boundaries from the beginning but even if this is not the  beginning for you, it is not too late to start. It is okay to say no politely when being asked to  carry emotional labor that is not your own. Establishing boundaries early on, minimize the  likelihood that people at work will continue attempting to siphon your emotional resources.  

Get Support

You are not alone. There are so many others who can relate to your experience and even offer  advice on how to handle specific situations. Building a network with people who have the  awareness and capacity can lighten the load for you and serve as a reminder that you are not  alone. Connecting and building community with others who understand the unique challenges  and complexities of being the only Black face in the place or simply working in PW spaces can  serve as a source of safety, strength, and relief. Everyone deserves community and no one of  us has to walk alone. 

Take Care of Your Mind, Body & Spirit  

Taking part in things that enrich your mind, body, and spirit is a great way to keep you  grounded and connected to your own body and experience. Self-care may look different for  everyone but connect with hobbies and activities that refresh your soul. For me, that is often a  concert, a day at the park, meditation, or rest. We spend so much time at work that it is  important to be able to connect with our joy even amid the battle. Being able to recognize  when you’re exhausted and struggling with emotional slave labor is critical and having a  therapist who is willing to decolonize your experience can provide you with validation and life changing support.  

Reclaim Your Joy  

One of the most radical forms of resistance against emotional labor is joy. Take your power  back and be intentional about finding the moments of happiness, love, laughter and peace that  exist in your every day life. Refuse to be robbed of the joy of your experience by getting  intentional about where you place your energetic currency. 

Advocate For Change  

Refusing to stay silent is another form of resistance. This could look like advocating for change,  diversity, equity, and inclusion within your workplace, and just because some companies have  dissolved their programs does not mean you should stay silent about the need for it.  Advocating for equality in the workplace for marginalized individuals may look like requesting  workplace training on microaggressions and inclusion. You can also ask for clarified job  descriptions and expectations to help prevent burning you out.   

The burden of emotional labor on Black women is a product of white supremacy, systemic  oppression, and workplace policies and ideology rooted in racism and centered around  harvesting free labor from Black bodies, minds, and spirits. At a deeper level, it is spiritual  warfare. If you are facing the oppressive demands of emotional labor, consider taking  immediate action for the sake of self-protection and self-preservation. You may need to begin  strategizing on how you will address the situation directly and unapologetically, and it may be  time to dust off that resume and tap into your network to evaluate safer work options.  Whatever it may be, center it around your health and well-being. 

References  

Berdahl, J. L., & Bhattacharyya, B. (2024). Do White Women Gain Status for Engaging in  Anti-black Racism at Work? An Experimental Examination of Status Conferral:  JBE. Journal of Business Ethics, 193(4), 839-858.  

Durr, M., & Harvey Wingfield, A. M. (2011). Keep your “N” in check: African American 

women and the interactive effects of etiquette and emotional labor. Critical Sociology,  37, 557–571.  

Kelly, Bridget Turner, et al. “Hidden in Plain Sight: Uncovering the Emotional Labor of Black  Women Students at Historically White Colleges and Universities.” Journal of Diversity  in Higher Education, vol. 14, no. 2, 2021, pp. 203–216, https://doi.org/10.1037/ dhe0000161. 

Hurston, Z. N. (1998). Their eyes were watching God. New York, NY: Perennial Classics.  (Original work published 1937)