African American Women and Work

Corinne Lally Benedetto

African American women's work and its history is, in many crucial respects, the history of the United States. Although most Black women have labored in the most back-breaking work, during more recent years some have also held the most prestigious and attractive jobs. Thus, African American women's labor spans the labor economy and market, from menial service jobs to high-powered information and entertainment work. The proportion of Black women participating in the labor market has always outstripped that same proportion of White women, and this fact alone brings their work history to the forefront of Black culture in U.S. society. Locked out, like White women, from most high-wage employment until quite recently, and paid even lower wages than their White women counterparts, it is likely that African American women have worked more actual hours during their work lives than has any other group in U.S. history. This entry looks at ...

Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.