BLACK WOMEN IN THE LABOR MARKET: CASE STUDY IN VALE DO SINOS/RS, BRAZIL

Abstract

This article proposes an analysis of the insertion of young adult black women into the job market, with an emphasis on Vale do Sinos/RS, highlighting the discrepancy between the high level of education and the persistent precarious conditions they face. The work trajectory of these women is complex, shaped by deep historical nuances and various forms of discrimination. As a guiding objective, the study seeks to understand these complexities, exposing the intricate dynamics that permeate the professional lives of these women. Into this analysis, it also seeks to contribute to the deconstruction of the simplistic conception that only schooling guarantees equal opportunities in the job market. Black women, even highly qualified women, are targets of harmful stereotypes and racial bias, reflecting persistent discriminatory structures. It is imperative, for this reason, to question not only organizational practices, but also the roots of inequalities in institutional and social structures that perpetuate this discrepancy, since understanding how these structures impact professional trajectories and advancement prospects is crucial to developing strategies effective measures to promote equality in the labor market. The research adopted a qualitative approach and the procedures included field research and narrative interviews, targeting subjective data. The results reveal complexities in the experiences of black women, highlighting challenges and overcoming strategies. The analysis suggests the need for intersectional approaches to understand invisible barriers and develop effective strategies. Deepening studies on these barriers means exploring psychosocial, structural and cultural dimensions, to tension privileges and provoke ruptures in segregationist dynamics, offering knowledge for the development of more inclusive policies and practices.