Professional racial segregation

Date and country of first publication

2022
Brazil

Definition

Professional racial segregation refers to the systematic exclusion or segregation of individuals from certain racial or ethnic backgrounds within professional fields or industries. This form of segregation occurs when individuals from marginalized racial or ethnic groups face barriers to entry, advancement, or equal treatment within their chosen professions due to discriminatory practices, biases, or institutionalized racism.

Professional racial segregation can manifest in various ways, including:

Hiring discrimination: Employers may discriminate against job applicants based on their race or ethnicity, leading to disparities in hiring and representation within certain professions.

Promotion and advancement disparities: Even after being hired, individuals from marginalized racial or ethnic groups may face obstacles in advancing their careers, such as being passed over for promotions or leadership positions.

Wage and salary disparities: Professionals from marginalized racial or ethnic groups may be paid less than their counterparts from dominant racial or ethnic groups, even when they have similar qualifications and experience.

Workplace discrimination: Employees may experience racial harassment, microaggressions, or other forms of discrimination in the workplace, creating hostile or unwelcoming environments that hinder their professional growth and success.

Efforts to address professional racial segregation typically involve implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, promoting equal opportunities for career advancement, and fostering inclusive workplace cultures. By dismantling barriers and biases that perpetuate professional racial segregation, organizations can create more equitable and diverse work environments where all individuals have the opportunity to thrive and succeed based on their skills, qualifications, and contributions.

Professional racial segregation appears in the following literature

Jairo I., de França D.X. (2022). The Professional Choices of Black Adolescents in Brazil: Effects of Stereotype Threats. Trends in Psychology, -. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-022-00178-3