TY - JOUR
T1 - Necessary, yet mistreated
T2 - the lived experiences of black women essential workers in dual pandemics of racism and COVID-19
AU - Goode, Rachel W.
AU - Schultz, Kevan
AU - Halpern, David
AU - Godoy, Sarah
AU - Goings, Trenette Clark
AU - Chapman, Mimi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic has showcased the United States’ reliance on essential workers, or those deemed necessary to continue critical societal functions. Black women remain overrepresented in essential positions and are on the frontlines of two pandemics: COVID-19 and racism. Using a phenomenological research design, we conducted semi-structured interviews to examine the experiences of 22 Black women essential workers navigating these dual pandemics. Salient themes of these experiences included: desire to and fear of protest; navigating extreme emotions; mixed levels of understanding from colleagues; and a rise in blatantly racist confrontations in the workplace. Further reflection is needed to understand the complex dynamics these women faced.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has showcased the United States’ reliance on essential workers, or those deemed necessary to continue critical societal functions. Black women remain overrepresented in essential positions and are on the frontlines of two pandemics: COVID-19 and racism. Using a phenomenological research design, we conducted semi-structured interviews to examine the experiences of 22 Black women essential workers navigating these dual pandemics. Salient themes of these experiences included: desire to and fear of protest; navigating extreme emotions; mixed levels of understanding from colleagues; and a rise in blatantly racist confrontations in the workplace. Further reflection is needed to understand the complex dynamics these women faced.
KW - African American women
KW - COVID-19
KW - phenomenological qualitative research
KW - racism
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131205828&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85131205828&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15313204.2022.2081642
DO - 10.1080/15313204.2022.2081642
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85131205828
SN - 1531-3204
VL - 31
SP - 263
EP - 274
JO - Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work
JF - Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work
IS - 3-5
ER -