Do you think that Hobson had to overcome special problems to become a success in her chosen career because she is female and African American? Explain your answer.

Question

Go to the Biography Resource Center database. Click Biographical Facts Search
under Other Searches. When the search form page opens, click on View Occupation Terms,
click on M, and choose Marketing executive which appears in the Occupation List. From the
Nationality search box, choose American. From the Gender search box, choose Female. From
the Birth Year search box choose is after and type in 1960. In the Birth Place search box type
Chicago. Click on SEARCH. Click on Mellody Hobson. Read the article and then answer the
questions.
What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

I think that Hobson’s gender and ethnicity would have been both a help and a hindrance in her career. She would have found it easier to talk to other middle-class African Americans because she is African American herself. However, she probably would have found it more difficult to be accepted in the professional world of investment advisors who are predominantly White and male.