Latinas have the least representation in management, Lean In report finds

An underrepresentation of Latinas in entry-level roles only worsens as their careers progress, making them the least-represented group of C-suite executives, according to a Lean In report.

An underrepresentation of Latinas in entry-level corporate roles only worsens as their careers progress, making them the least-represented group of C-suite executives in the U.S., according to a new report. 

The State of Latinas in Corporate America report, published Wednesday by LeanIn.org, a nonprofit organization focused on women in the workplace co-founded by former Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, found that Latinas occupy just 1% of C-suite roles in the U.S. workforce. The report used data from Lean In and McKinsey & Co.’s annual Women in the Workplace study, as well as expert analysis, to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the challenges it says Latinas face at work. 

Latinas encounter two critical “broken rungs” as they climb up the corporate ladder, according to the report. They are overlooked for management roles and then again for senior leadership roles. While Latinas hold just 4.9% of entry-level corporate jobs, the number shrinks to 3.3% at the managerial level and 2% for senior leadership roles. 

“This holds Latinas back at a key moment when the C-suite is finally in view,” the report says. 

Rachel Thomas, a co-founder and the CEO of Lean In, said performance bias in the form of stereotypes about Latinas clashes with traditional expectations of what makes a good fit for corporate jobs and managerial roles. Latinas, she said, are associated with “domestic work, having large families, being less educated, being fiery and emotional.” 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latina-representation-in-management-report-rcna157020

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