News One » Business

Study: Black Women Face Less Backlash Than Male Peers

D.L. Chandler — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:27:25 +0000

A recent study co-written by a Duke University associate professor along with input from Northwestern University researchers suggests that dominant Black women in high-ranking positions or roles of leadership do not receive the same backlash as their Black male and White female counterparts, according to the Herald-Sun.

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The study, “Can an Agentic Black Woman Get Ahead?” tallied the results of 84 non-Black persons watching a staged event, where business executives were shown being either critical of an employee or offering words of encouragement. Afterward, the data and results were collected in an online poll.

The study is awaiting publication in the Psychological Science journal and was co-authored by Ashleigh Shelby Rosette, an associate professor of management and organization at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. Rosette spoke with the Herald-Sun of Durham about the study.

“There’s a substantial body of research showing a penalty for women when they display dominant, assertive, angry, commanding or demanding behavior,” Rosette said. “All of those resources presumed that the women under consideration were white but hadn’t necessarily looked at what would happen if the women were of a different race.”

The study contended that because business leadership is typically male and White, Black women in that position would face fewer backlashes because they are not the norm for those roles. Further, the research proposed the idea that dominant behavior from Black women would have led to more criticism, which the study found to be opposite of the expected.

“Our findings show that Black women are evaluated comparably to white men,” Rosette said. “If that’s the case, why are there not more Black women represented in top leadership positions?”

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Diddy Leaving Music To Start Another Liquor Brand?

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:33:43 +0000

After having already built Ciroc into one of the most successful Vodka brands, Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs told wants to expand his role in the liquor industry.

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Speaking with AdWeek, Combs hinted at launching a tequila brand, saying he has been spending time in Mexico learning about the art of tequila.

Combs also spoke of transitioning out of the music industry onto the big-screen, where he’s also been successful as a television executive producer.

I’ve had six shows on the air at one time. I don’t say that in a braggadocio way. But you should definitely remember this conversation and look back at it and say, “I remember he told me he was going to make some huge announcements.

Despite Bad Economy, Black Hair Businesses Booming

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:31:29 +0000

Despite high rates of unemployment and an uncertain economy Black barbershops and hair salons are booming, according to BlackNews2.

The Census Bureau recently noted their jump in an otherwise glum report about mom-and-pop businesses, stating that the number of hairdressers and barbers and the shops that employ them grew by about 8 percent from 2008 to 2009.

Apparently, getting a haircut is one of the last expenses that consumers are willing to give up. And people who run salons never have to fret that their work might be outsourced. “We don’t have to worry about someone flying to China to get their hair cut,” said Charles Kirkpatrick, director of the National Association of Barber Boards of America. “Barbering is not going away.”

2011 Best 40 Companies For Diversity

Gerren Keith Gaynor — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:32:20 +0000

Black Enterprise released its annual “Best Companies For Diversity,” the top 40 companies that are inclusive for minorities, and as an addition, whether they rate on the Human Rights Campaign’s Best Places to Work with regard to the LGBT community.

Some familiar companies that made the list include Allstate Corp., American Express Inc., AT&T, JPMorgan Chase, and the controversial Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

See The Rest Of The List At BlackEnterprise.com

Obama Fried Chicken?! Stores Make A Buck Off The Obama Name

Johan Thomas — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:45:05 +0000

President Obama is quite popular among business owners in New York’s black neighborhoods not because of his policies but because of his name, which many merchants are adopting to drive business to their stores.

Obama Fried Chicken, Obama Beauty Supply and Obama Deli Grocery are just a few of the businesses that have adopted the name of the first black president.

“People like his name,” said Muhammad Seraji, owner of Obama Beauty Supply on Utica Ave.

Seraji sells wigs, weaves and hair-care products, and one of the most popular items is an $89.99 lace-front wig named after the First Lady.

Tell us what you think? Do you have an Obama-named business near you?

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