Black women have always been told to “work harder” to achieve the success they want, but what does that mean? Oftentimes, we work so hard until our bodies start to show signs of illness directly related to stress caused by environmental factors such as our jobs, our homes and our families. With our arms pulled in different directions we do not have time to rest, which leads to burnout.
Burnout is not a catchphrase. It’s an actual syndrome defined as prolonged chronic stress characterized by exhaustion. To always be on the go and to work until your body gives out is something that is common in the lives of Black women. It is common in mine, from working three jobs, being involved in activities and being in college full time. It has been detrimental to my mental health which caused me anxiety, restlessness and depression.
The notion to “always work harder” stems from racism and various microaggressions. We have to constantly prove ourselves in spaces where we may not be valued for our work and dedication to feel like we are doing enough.
The three various microaggressions Black women face are microinsults, microinvalidation and microassaults. As a Black woman, I’ve experienced all three.
Microinsults are verbal and non-verbal communications that subtly convey rudeness and insensitivity, demeaning a person’s race and identity. Microinvalidations are communications that subtly exclude, negate or nullify an individual’s thoughts, feelings and experience as a person of color. Furthermore, microassaults use racially sensitive language.
In the workplace environment, Black women have two intersections that are constantly being thrown at them: Being a woman and being Black.
In the corporate world Black women experience the inequities of being overworked and underpaid for their contributions, which fosters detachment from the reality in their work environment. Black women typically make 67 cents for every dollar they earn compared to their colleagues. They also feel that their race contributes to their advancement and growth in their career, often halting their progress. 49% of Black women feel their identity and race will make it difficult to get a raise or promotion.
All the forces that Black women need to fight against to get an equal footing in the world comes with extreme exhaustion. We have to constantly prove our worth to others while simultaneously trying to balance relationships and our own health. Anxiety and physical ailments is what comes with burnout. It feels like the engine has broken down and the gasoline pump is no longer working, keeping us in a limbo of dead weight we carry.
While I experience burnout, I have to keep reminding myself that I do not have to prove myself to others, and that my work is valued despite what others may think. I have to keep in mind that breaks are needed because if I keep going, I will have no more energy left for the things that are of importance to me. When I feel like I am carrying the world on my shoulders, it can be hard to ask for help. Many of us are raised to always raise the bar further than it is projected to go.
We just want to be enough. Enough to be taken seriously. Enough that we do not have to run extra laps to get a fraction of the success we know we deserve.
