STRUCTURAL RACISM IN THE LABOR MARKET: IMPACTS ON THE RACIAL DIVISION

Abstract

This work examines structural racism in the labor market, focusing on the challenges faced by black people in attaining management positions in private companies. The study explores how institutional practices sustain racial inequalities and reveals the obstacles, such as stereotypes and discrimination, that hinder the advancement of black individuals, even when qualified. It highlights the persistent underrepresentation of Black people in leadership roles and the wage disparities in relation to white women. The research emphasizes the concept of structural racism as a phenomenon rooted in institutions, social practices, and historical structures, responsible for maintaining racial inequalities even in the absence of explicit individual racist attitudes. Starting from a historical contextualization, the text explains how slavery, social segregation, and the lack of inclusion policies contributed to the systematic marginalization of the black population in Brazil. The analysis points out that structural racism manifests itself transversally in the labor market, education, health, and access to housing, operating through subtle and naturalized mechanisms. Since structural racism is not the result of isolated behaviors but rather of a historical system that perpetuates inequalities, collective engagement is required for its eradication.