
Crenshaw also asserts that the double minority status of black women makes them more vulnerable to further marginalization. Columbia University professor Kimberlé Crenshaw states in her research that the intersectionality of the black woman’s experience is unique to that of black men and white women. The angry black woman stereotype has persisted over half a century later. The origin of the angry black woman stereotype is believed to stem from the 1950s radio show Amos ‘n’ Andy, which depicted black women as sassy and domineering. Other examples of this stereotype being applied include Michelle Obama, Jemele Hill and Shonda Rhimes. For evidence of this stereotype, one must look no further than recent headlines regarding Serena Williams. Black women must overcome the angry black woman stereotype, which characterizes black women as bad-tempered, hostile and overly aggressive.

For black women in the workplace, this glass ceiling may seem even more impenetrable. Women in the workplace must overcome the glass ceiling, which is the invisible barrier that prevents them from career ascension and progression. For Asians, they are dubbed the model minorities, with many of the labels and stereotypes about this group being more positive in nature, although they do experience stereotyping about their lack of interpersonal skills and their inability to be assertive.

Underrepresented minority groups often find themselves having to overcome widely-held stereotypes about their groups. A stereotype is defined as “a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
