The Credibility Gap for Black Women in the Third Sector

Like most months, March was filled with the highs of community and connection, and the lows of news headlines reminding us that we are not in a safe or supportive environment. Although, International Women’s Day added another lens in which to see these highs and lows.

For International Women’s Day, Do it Now Now got our Advisory Board members together to share the joys of connectedness and celebrate each other, and rather naturally, commiserate about the negative experiences we had each had of late in the third sector that reeked of misogynoir. Then news headlines about Diane Abbott hit and it has been brutal to see further evidence of our experiences as Black women become fodder for journalists and dismissed by some leaders of this country. 

Sometimes it is easier to see things topographically, that is why when we think about the intersectionality of being a Black woman in the third sector, we know we’re thinking about the Credibility Gap. That looming crevice that seems to pop up continually. If we don’t pay attention, the gap is where our businesses fail, our efforts are squandered, and the example we are setting becomes another reason for others not to try. 

What we are talking about is very familiar to anyone with the lived experience of being a Black woman and a leader trying to nurture their organisation into becoming something strong and sustainable. We can be in a meeting with a fund manager discussing timelines of delivery and then a casual comment can slip from their mouths reminding us that they think we are ill-equipped, insufficient somehow, without evidence and as part of a generalised view that they picked up and empowered in their career. Is it the colour of our skin or that we’re women? The credibility gap is suddenly there and in addition to managing the stresses of running an organisation we have to become sole witness to our undermining. 

The blisteringly frustrating thing is that the two things that are points for bigotry at worst, paternalism at best, actually make us stronger, better leaders. Women are problem solvers, doers, connectors. We know what it is like to be undermined, hand-patted, waved away. Being racialised by the world around us, means we understand the strength of community support and be potent voices for the efficacy of our work. 

For the people wanting to be positive agents of change, we ask you to consider the power of intersectionality, the strength that comes from a lifetime of having to navigate gaps. Highlight the value of your lived experience and push back the slew of undermining comments. Us, as Black women, and the work we do are too valuable and necessary to fall through the cracks, to be discouraged. 

Here is a snapshot of the brunch with the Advisory Board celebrating International Women’s Day. Let’s make these moments of joy, connectedness and camaraderie, part of our everyday.