When I saw this post, something in me triggered, and I realized that this happens globally and regularly. Unfortunately, when we hear from the experience of a white woman perspective, we don’t hear an acknowledgement of the broad spectrum conversation.
Bethenny Frankel’s post, she said, “most people don’t work hard.” when it concerns your career, I paused. Is this really a valid point of view?
When it comes to deconstructing the race experience, it happens to be more complicated, especially for women of colour. This is because we inherently work harder; we are usually more educated, have better critical thinking, have astute business acumen, and have endless amounts of ambition.
One of the benefits of consistently being told no or don’t have the opportunities like our white counterparts we develop a higher sense of critical thinking. Think of always having the ‘start up’ mentality. But instead of failing at a business, you lose the ability to pay rent or provide food for your family. The stakes are higher.
Perhaps this is why Bethenny Frankel’s statement was so triggering. Frankel’s success was based on being seen. While on Real Housewives of New York, we connected with a woman that wanted simple dreams and grew empathy for the single woman that wanted to have it all. How many women of colours like myself related to her and her ambition?
The toxicity is not recognizing that your white experience does not account for all experiences. What is problematic with white leadership is avoiding the inclusion conversation and hearing about those experiences that change the narrative of the ladder of success.
While I was the director of digital marketing in a meeting, I was asked to grab tea and coffee for the board members in the next room. We won’t get into the details of who was in that room because you already know. The experiences are vastly different and most likely have more hidden nuances regarding the layers of the expectations of women of colour.
The certainty and aggressiveness of Frankel’s delivery when giving that “How do you become successful” advice that we often ask for of CEOs struck a cord.
As CEOs, CMOs holding C-Suite positions take the time. So take the time to see the whole experience. If you are caught up with your story while easily being seen and respected, is this not the definition of privilege?
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