For women of all races and men of color, race and gender continue to produce different and unequal outcomes. This is especially visible in the underrepresentation of women in professional occupations and their experiences. For example, due to factors such as motherhood penalty, gender discrimination, and occupational segregation, women earn 79 cents for every dollar earned by males. Black women make only 64 cents on the dollar, while Latinas earn only 54 cents. Women of color continue to face occupational and economic disadvantages as a result of the ways race and gender interact in the workplace.

How do racism and sexism affect women of color in the workplace? Both characteristics harm women in a range of sectors by limiting leadership chances, perpetuating specific forms of sexual harassment, and instilling subtle but pervasive questions about competence, intelligence, and skill that have little to do with real performance.