Let’s be honest - it’s been a rough winter.

We’ll leave you to pick which of the cocktail of issues has had the worst impact in recent months: a cost of living crisis that shows no signs of getting better, a struggling global economy leading to a challenging housing environment for homeowners and renters, childcare costs that are increasingly out of control and a steady stream of job cuts as businesses struggle to keep the lights on.

Despite this, we have to keep going, because we learned long ago that the system is not going to bail us out. So how are black women responding? By taking matters into our own hands.

From December to February, many of the most read stories have revolved around how we are taking care of ourselves and those closest to us. Black women have been using BB stories to figure out how to navigate the glass brick ceiling when it comes to our careers, so we can afford the lives we want. They’ve also been trying to take control of their internal & external ecosystems, from prioritising our mental health and understanding the impact of neurodiversity, to exploring how to get the hell of this island temporarily or permanently.

We don’t know how all of these big national and global issues get resolved. What we do know is, as black women continue to look out for themselves and their loved ones, we will continue to document and share their voices, experiences and journeys.

These are the 15 most read stories on Black Ballad published this winter. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed writing & commissioning them.

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"There’s nothing abnormal about a black autistic woman. The more people hear about neurodiversity in the workplace, the more that they’ll start to embrace it."

- Too Autistic For Black: Navigating Blackness And Neurodiversity

"Gaining new experiences can never be a waste of time, even if they lead you to realise it’s not what you want to do."

- How Job-Hopping Changed My Career For The Better

"A lifetime of adverse experiences (many of which are rooted in racism), subconsciously trained me to disassociate from overwhelming feelings."

- What I've Learned From Working With A White Male Therapist

"I have learned to be a good communicator and listener. I understand people’s individuality and personal space. I know exactly what I want in life and I can stand up for myself in different spaces."

- It’s True: Gentle Parenting Can Stop The Cycle Of Generational Trauma In Black Families