The fractured self at work: Exploring intersectionality of gender and race/ethnicity among advertising professionals

This study advances advertising scholarship by integrating intersectionality theory (Crenshaw, Citation1989) and the glass slipper framework (Ashcraft, Citation2013) to examine the lived experiences of Black and Hispanic advertising agency employees. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 19 advertising professionals, the findings reveal three overarching themes. The results uncover an intersectional glass slipper, whereby employees’ intersecting identities foster or inhibit their occupational legitimacy and career advancement. The findings demonstrate that communication not only reflects existing organizational hierarchies but also actively produces and reinforces identity-based inequalities. Limitations and directions for future research are outlined.