'Quiet Promoting' and Work-Related Stress In Black Women

Quiet as it is kept, the practice of 'quiet promotions' is not new, especially for Black employees. 'Promoting' someone 'quietly' requires an employee to do more work than usual without a promotion or a pay increase.

Old As Slavery

Despite the rise of this catchy new phrase, the act of overworking and underpaying black employees is as old as slavery, convict leasing programs, chain gangs, and Jim Crow practices, all designed to exploit the labor of Black people.

Bleak Reality For Black Women

Colloquialisms like 'quiet quitting' (doing the bare minimum without actually quitting) and 'quiet promotions' may be cute. Still, they do not account for the bleak reality that Black women receive less support from managers and are less encouraged to achieve a work-life balance. Black women have been particularly vulnerable to 'quiet promotions' because they are already paid 39% less than white men and 21% less than white women. Studies show that almost 80 percent of Black mothers are key breadwinners for their families, and nearly 30 percent of those households live below the poverty level. Therefore, Black homes rely on their wages to make ends meet, making it difficult for Black women to speak up and say 'No' when asked to take on more work responsibilities.

Physical and Psychological Effects

Whether black women are 'quietly quitting' or 'quietly promoted,' the message is loud and clear; Both strategies contribute to the rise in physical (muscle tension, digestive problems, headaches, etc.) and psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, feelings of isolation, and burnout) associated with work-related stress.

Although necessary, treating physical and psychological symptoms of work-related stress alone does not address the more significant systemic problem of wage disparities among Black women. Not paying a fair wage commensurate with additional responsibilities and work is harmful.

Safe Space Is Necessary

Being in a position to empower, treat, and care for targeted groups of racialized stress and trauma is a privilege that I do not take lightly. As a therapist and life coach, I know the importance of having a safe space to process thoughts and feelings not likely expressed at work. These services can be a powerful source of support and guidance during difficult times.

Gena Golden, LCSW, NBCCH, is an anti-oppression+holistic psychotherapist and culturally attuned hypnotherapist. She specializes in working with women of color impacted by toxic and traumatic work environments (including spaces of higher learning); strained mother/daughter relationships; religious trauma; social phobias (social anxiety, performance & test anxiety) resulting in internalized forms of oppression, imposter syndrome, and an inner critic. Additionally, she is a coach trained in Positive Psychology and Neuroscience-informed practices.

To learn more, please click the link below.

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