Fit In vs. Lean In: Challenges of the Afro, Attire, and Attitude for Black Women

May 26, 2015 by Dr. Denise O'Neil Green 2 Comments

In this video blog, I discuss "fitting in" versus "leaning in" and the myriad challenges for Black women in professional development. This video was inspired by Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead".

In the meantime, I want to hear from you:

Should we be "Leaning In"? Should we be doing something else? Or should we just be ourselves?

I look forward to your responses below*, and I'd love your input.

*Note: You will need to register for an Institutional Diversity Blog account in order to comment, but you can get started right away by clicking here, or visiting our FAQ page for more help. Also, check out this video on "Registering for an Account on The Institutional Diversity Blog".

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About Dr. Denise O'Neil Green

Dr. Denise O’Neil Green, President and Principal Consultant of Denise O'Neil Green Consulting, is an award-winning, visionary and internationally recognized expert in equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), anti-racism, organizational change and transformational leadership with 30 years of experience. As a global thought leader, she has worked across various sectors, including postsecondary education, government, business, and healthcare, as a keynote speaker, innovative strategist, educator, and changemaker. In March 2022, she launched Denise O’Neil Green Consulting, using her professional and lived experiences to empower EDI leaders and organizations to go beyond the performative and be truly authentic in developing and implementing EDI strategies. She is also the Executive Editor of The Institutional Diversity Blog.

Comments

Mary Henley says

October 29, 2015 at 12:19 PM

Hello Dr. Green. I enjoyed this video post. As black women we are required to multitask – we have to lean in, do something else while being ourselves. It all depends on the day and the situation at hand. I agree with your points about the choice of natural hair, how I choose to dress and the expectation of the "angry black woman" syndrom. These are topics in my daily life. Challenges of the Afro, Attire, and Attitude for Black Women sounds like an excellent next book title for you. I look forward to adding it to my bookself.

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- Dr. Denise O'Neil Green says
  
  November 2, 2015 at 10:21 AM
  
  Greetings Mary. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Intersectionality is something Lean In does not cover. While there are similarities in experiences across diverse women; there are also distinct differences in how women of color, specifically Black women, are treated and perceived as leaders. One can do as much "leaning in" as one wants; however, it doesn't negate the fact that Black women have an entirely different set of challenges. I just might consider the book idea!
  
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