Middle-class African-American women have generally been ignored in the social scientific literature, according to Yanick St. Jean, associate professor of sociology at UNLV.

"Moreover, when acknowledged, these middle-class women may be portrayed unfairly, as exotic sexual players and mammies," she says. "In the absence of systematic inquiries to challenge the women's distorted image, it makes sense that, despite their numerous achievements, old stereotypes linger and infuse the culture on a daily basis. It also makes sense that for the most part, middle-class African-American women are misunderstood, and little is known about who they really are, or how they see themselves."

St. Jean plans to conduct several focus-group discussions with middle-class African-American women over the age of 21 who live in the Las Vegas area. The results of the study will be disseminated in a book on middle-class black women.

If you are an African-American woman currently engaged in a professional occupation and willing to participate in the study, please call St. Jean call me at 895-0255.