Every inequality brings an unfair struggle: The voices of Black, impoverished women from Rio de Janeiro about their careers

Abstract Research on the career trajectory of impoverished black women is scarce despite their significant representation in the global demographic pyramid. Thus, through a qualitative and inductive approach involving in-depth interviews and documentary analysis, this study sought to analyze the career trajectory of Black, impoverished women from Rio de Janeiro. As main results, we highlight that NGOs are recognized as important social actors in the pursuit of emancipation and autonomy by promoting training and encouraging various possible career paths for these women. Additionally, the interviewees mentioned to be unaware of public sphere actions that contribute to overcoming the inequalities demonstrated by the current asymmetry in access to opportunities, emphasizing the differences between social groups, thus reinforcing such inequalities further within the social context. The study contributes to career literature by exploring the trajectory of impoverished Black women, a group neglected in the literature. It empirically contributes to encouraging reflection and possible actions by the first, second, and third sectors to reduce the discrepancies experienced by these women. The study also contributes to understanding the importance of NGOs’ role in providing emotional, technical, and operational support to these women.