A Multi-Generational Workplace Perspective: The Phenomenon of the Millennial African Immigrant Woman in Corporate America
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Graduate group
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women
millennials
diversity and inclusion
immigrant
first-generation
second-generation
emotional tax
stereotype threat
model minority myth
workplace diversity
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Abstract
This research and capstone explore how the experiences of Ghanaian and Nigerian first andsecond-generation immigrant women in the U.S. workplace differ from their Black American counterparts. This research specifically focuses on the experiences of millennials (born between 1981 – 1996), Black, women, who had at least three years of work experience. Through interviews including first andsecond-generation Ghanaian and Nigerian women and multi-generational Black American women, the capstone examines issues that include the stereotype threat, emotional tax, and the model minority myth. With the growth in the Black immigrant population over the last century, it is imperative that companies realize the nuanced differences present in these groups (Kposowa, 2002). Many of the women who participated in this study mentioned instances where stereotype threat and emotional tax negatively affected their workplace experiences. In all ten interviews, each woman had at least one instance where she felt that her race played in part in her workplace treatment. All the women felt as though they had to be acutely aware of how they presented themselves in the workplace. There were, however, slight differences in their workplace and educational social experiences, depending on whether they were Black American, or a first or second-generation Ghanaian or Nigerian millennial, immigrant, woman.