Women of Color: The struggles we ignore and the voices we silence

Introduction

Let’s get one thing straight, the world isn’t kind to women, but it’s especially ruthless to women of color. While society claims to be “woke” and “inclusive,” real change is still miles away.

What I’m about to tell you isn’t a story you’ll hear often not because it isn’t happening, but because most people would rather look away.

Recently, I sat down with a few women of color who shared their raw, unfiltered realities. What I heard shocked me, enraged me, and, frankly, made me question if we’re really as progressive as we like to think.

Meet the woman of color

Juliet is a 28-year-old black woman who’s spent most of her career in teaching. She’s sharp, dedicated, and if you ask me, probably overqualified for her job. But does she get the respect she deserves?

No. Because as soon as she walks into that staffroom, she’s reduced to her race and gender. “You can’t imagine the looks I get,” she told me, “or the comments I hear some people actually question if I’m there because of a diversity quota.”

Imagine working twice as hard as everyone else, only to have people involve that your activities are handed to you. For Juliet, it’s a daily reality. But here’s the kicker, Juliet can’t complain without being labelled as “difficult.” Society demands that women of color stay silent, smile, and just “be grateful” they’re included at all. She’s overworked, underpaid, and invisible.

The world’s double standards

People often claim that things are getting better for women of color. But if you think hiring a few diversity officers and printing slogans on a T-shirt solves racism and sexism, you’re part of the problem. Let’s not kid ourselves.

Women of color are dealing with a uniquely brutal intersection of discrimination. They’re facing obstacles that go beyond gender.

It’s a toxic cocktail of racism, sexism, and every other kind of “ism” you can think of.

And don’t think for a second that these are “one-off” experiences. These stories are the norm, not the exception. The fact that we can list these struggles so easily shows just how deeply ingrained this problem is.

The mental toll on women of color

This isn’t just about hurt feelings. The constant micro aggressions, depreciating comments, and dismissive attitudes take a toll on mental health. When I asked Juliet how she copes, she laughed bitterly. “I don’t. I carry it because that’s all I can do.”

The world likes to celebrate the resilience of women of color, but let’s be honest resilience shouldn’t be a requirement for existing. These women shouldn’t have to be “strong” to get through their days; they should be allowed to be human.

Bare minimum and mistreatment

When women of color are included, it’s often as token figures. They’re walked around to give the appearance of diversity, but they’re not given real power or influence.

The concept of bare minimum gives companies a shield to hide behind, making it look like they’re progressive while keeping these women in places where they can’t enact meaningful change.

What needs to change

Here’s where we need to be brutally honest with ourselves. We need systemic change, not superficial band-aids.

Companies, schools, and society as a whole need to stop with the empty gestures and start dismantling the structures that oppress women of color.

It’s time for the world to recognize the deliberate insincerity of preaching equality while actively maintaining a culture of rejection.

1. Hold companies accountable

Enough with the meaningless buzzwords. If companies want to claim they support diversity, let’s see it. Promote women of color into decision-making roles. Provide real mentorship opportunities.

It’s not enough to hire them, companies need to support them in their growth and advancement.

2. Change starts in education

Bias starts young. Children need to learn about the strength and resilience of women of color not through sanitized textbooks but through real stories and discussions.

Schools need to create safe spaces for young girls of color to explore their identities without fear of judgment.

3. Representation with power

Representation doesn’t mean just being present. It means having a voice and making decisions.

Women of color need to be in positions where they can influence policy, drive change, and create inclusive environments.

Let’s start valuing these voices and putting power behind them.

A final word

These people are windows into the harsh realities faced by women of color every day. While people may pretend things are improving, we know better.

The systems in place are designed to keep these women down, to silence them, and to exploit their resilience. But this isn’t about pity, it’s about outrage.

Let me know if there are specific examples or other adjustments you’d like to add to make this post even more impactful!