Reflections of Black Married Working Mothers Managing Occupational Roles and Racism.

Black Working Mothers Manage Racial StressorsBlack married working mothers encounter chronic forms of racism on the job and in society. However, research on how these experiences impact their work performance, family lives, and overall wellbeing remains limited. This qualitative study reviewed the interview narratives of 91 Detroit-area Black women to discover important themes about the effects of racism on their key occupational roles of wife, employee, and mother. Four major themes emerged for being a Black employee, including the need to be better than White employees while also managing discrimination. The two Black mothering themes focused on safeguarding their children and preparing them for the future. Five themes for Black wives included facing systemic stress and sustaining a marriage while preserving their autonomy. Although the results of this non-random sample cannot be generalized beyond the participants, the findings are instructive and provide a foundation for more comprehensive studies in the future.