Recognized Women’s Pollster Kellyanne Conway Releases Research on Black Women

May 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Kellyanne Conway, President and CEO of the polling company(tm), inc./WomanTrend will release key findings from her research on what drives and perpetuates common myths and misconceptions of accomplished professional Black women in the Age of Michelle Obama. The data sheds light on the vocational, financial, romantic, and spiritual challenges that this unique demographic group faces.

The study’s results are available in the groundbreaking book “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” (www.BlackWomanRedefined.com), written by Sophia A. Nelson, a respected cultural and political thought leader and national columnist.  Nelson’s book has already hit Amazon’s best-seller list in pre-release.  Books are in stores May 31st, 2011.

Conway, nationally known for her demographic and attitudinal research on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, political advocacy groups and government agencies, worked with Nelson to conduct two comprehensive surveys and three focus groups of men and women, both Black and White, nationwide.

“Sophia Nelson reached out to us in 2005 to share with us her ideas for a book on Professional Black Women,” recalls Conway. “We were tasked with helping her understand and collect data on their personal experiences, aspirations, and attitudes, and the broader expectations and implications of their lifestyle choices.  It was an exciting and inspired task. Nelson’s approach and passion for uncovering the challenges and triumphs that Professional Black Women face in their workplace, relationships, and lives was unparalleled.”

The release of the survey results and book coincide with present media coverage in Newsweek  about Reality TV’s impact on black women and Psychology Today analyzing the portrayal of Black women on television and suggesting Black women are the most “unattractive” of all women. The infamous Pepsi Super Bowl commercial with a Black woman physically abusing her husband adds to ABC’s videos “Why Can’t A Successful Black Woman Get a Man” and “Black Marriage Negotiations” among other examples.

The survey and focus group results are discussed in Nelson’s book. The following data   snapshots reveal some of the study’s key findings:

* Mrs. Obama’s Positive Impact: Professional Black women admired First Lady Michelle Obama for her intelligence (40%) and accomplishments (35%), and many identified her as a role model or inspiration.  In total, 87% credited Michelle Obama with dispelling stereotypes about the achievements of Black women in America.

* Black Women & Money: Financial pressures or debt were the leading factors that negatively influenced Professional Black Women’s (PBW) mental health, including causing depression, for 60% of respondents.  

* ]Black Women & Relationships: The majority of PBW (66%) reported they would rather be alone than in a relationship with someone who was below their standards for the sake of companionship.  More than three-quarters of PBW (78%) believed “finding a ‘suitable’ husband” was a challenge faced by Black women more so than their White counterparts.  Intimidation was pegged by 67% of PBW as the main impediment to Black women’s ability to start and sustain healthy relationships with Black men.  For the words or phrases that they believed Black men would use to describe them, PBW selected those that expressed their ability to be successful on their own (“independent,” 70% or “self-sufficient,” 70%) or those that negatively describe their attitudes or personalities (“standoffish,” 51%; “arrogant,” 48%; “snob,” 46%; “distant/aloof,” 32%; and “angry,” 30%).

* Black Women & Workplace: In the workplace, PBW pointed first to limits on opportunities for advancement (38%) and next to racial (29%), more so than gender, (10%) discrimination as hampering their ability to succeed.  In fact, women in professional or executive positions were more apt than white collar workers to have perceived prejudicial behavior based on race in their work environment (32% vs. 19%, respectively). White collar workers were also 21 points more likely than professional or executive Black women to highlight a lack of opportunities to be promoted (53% vs. 32%).

* Black Women & Racial Challenges: PBW recognized many challenges faced by Black women in the workplace beyond that experienced by their White counterparts, including getting ahead in the office (68%), earning respect from male colleagues (58%), being viewed as competent (54%), and hitting the “glass ceiling” professionally (52%).  Exploring the social implications of these difficulties in the workplace, the majority of PBW believed Black women disproportionately confront the challenge of providing for their families (66%).

* Black Women & Wellness:  PBW spoke to the real effects facing challenges in the workplace had on their personal health and wellbeing.  The desire to prove themselves was so strong that some drove themselves to hypertension, Shingles, and other complications.  Mental and emotional stability (42%) as well as financial security (23%) were key to PBW when considering their overall well being.  Smaller proportions of Black women selected factors related to physical health and relationships as important for personal contentment.  

* Black Women & Health: Health issues, such as fibroids, breast cancer, and Depression touch most PBW in some way.  With regard to Depression, PBW felt simple awareness of its treatability and acceptance of therapy and medical staff was key to battling the disease.  PBW agreed that the hardest thing for many Black women is asking for – and seeking out – help when needed; as for some, it would be admitting defeat.

* Black Women & Spirituality:  Three-quarters of PBW (75%) were raised to believe that engaging in intimate acts outside of marriage is indecent, especially those who professed to be more religiously-minded in adulthood.  In a separate question asked of women who confirmed traditional views with respect to sexuality, one-in-three (33%) believed sex was constructive for their adult relationships.

Additional findings can be found on the polling company™, inc./WomanTrend website, pollingcompany.com, and the Black Woman Redefined website, BlackWomanRedefined.com, in June 2011 after the book is in stores.

Celebrity guest contributors to the book include CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, Tom Joyner Morning Show’s Roland S. Martin & Jeff Johnson, Academy award nominated actress Taraji Henson, and For Colored Girls’ Kimberly Elise along with Dr. Lamont Hill, ABC’s The View Co-host Sherri Shepherd, Congressmen Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-IL) and Terri Sewell (D-Alabama), and many more. Black Woman Redefined is available online, at bookstores nationwide, and through Perseus Distribution. Orders only, please call toll-free 1-800-343-4499 or email orderentry@perseusbooks.com.

Nelson is available for interviews and speaking engagements. For interviews, media review copy and/or high resolution artwork, contact Neil Foote, Foote Communications, (214) 448-3765, neil@neilfoote.com with credential and complete shipping details.

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Foote Communications LLC is a Dallas, TX multi-media company, specializing in public relations, website solutions, multicultural marketing and political strategy and messaging.