Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
As a white woman, ask yourself: are you upholding or fighting racism?
What's Up with White Women? is a practical guide for white women who are interested in becoming more effective in their cross-cultural, anti-racist practices.
Blending real-life stories, theory, and anti-racism practices from decades of on-the-ground work, the authors invite white women to understand their gendered role in systemic racism and their unique opportunity for action. Both frank and compassionate, coverage includes:
- Stories of white women's experiences with sexism, racism, and white privilege
- How white women harm BIPOC and ourselves by colluding with systems of oppression
- Why and how white women often hijack race conversations
- A powerful six-stage identity development model for self-reflection and growth
- Guiding questions and practical actions for strengthening anti-racism practices
- Tools to cultivate genuine partnerships with BIPOC individuals and groups.
White women are positioned in a power hierarchy between white men and BIPOC. It is time for white women to step up and undertake deep reflection on their role in systemic racism and take concrete actions that support equity and justice for all people.
AWARDS
- SILVER | 2022 IPPY Awards - Current Events II (Social Issues/Humanitarian)
Tilman Smith has been an educator, project manager, and racial justice consultant for over thirty-five years, serving as a classroom teacher, college instructor, caucus facilitator, trainer, and coach. She has facilitated workshops and caucuses throughout the country on the topics of racial equity, white privilege, internalized sexism, and internalized white superiority. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
Ilsa Govan has extensive experience as an anti-racist facilitator, consultant, leadership coach, and activist. As co-founder of Cultures Connecting, she has helped countless organizations put their vision of racial equity into practice. Her facilitation superpower is guiding white people in examining how we've internalized racism in our assumptions and actions. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
Foreword
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
The Canyon We Must Cross
Working in Relationship
A Push
Focus Groups
The Power of Language
Acknowledging Our Lens
2. A Power Analysis: White Women and Institutional Access
Navigating Sexism
Benefiting from White Privilege
Occupying the Buffer Zone
3. A Model of White Women's Development
Overlapping Characteristics
The Progression: Sexism Before White Privilege
Feeling Each Phase
Strategic Questions
Using a Developmental Model
4. Immersion
Normalizing Whiteness
Gender Role Limitations
The Carrot and the Stick
Advancing White Male Agendas
Competing for Male Attention
The Ideal Object
Nice White Ladies Hurting People of Color
Final Thoughts
Feeling Immersion
Strategic Questions for Immersion
5. Capitulation
Putting People of Color at Risk
Stuck in the Middle with You
Normalization of the White Woman
What About Me?
Silent Consent
Between Helpless and Powerful
Passive Aggression
The Politics of Capitulation
Final Thoughts
Feeling Capitulation
Strategic Questions for Capitulation
6. Defense
Defense Reversal
Fighting for Crumbs: Sexism Versus Racism
I Got This
Take What I Want and Leave the Rest
I Love Your People
That's Not What I Meant!
Helpful and Nice Aggression
Please Join, as Long as You Make Me Feel Good
Physically Defending Ourselves
But I'm a Good Anti-Racist: Defensiveness Toward People of Color
Final Thoughts
Feeling Defense
Strategic Questions for Defense
7. Projection
Following the "Rules" of Anti-Racist Allyship
Dualistic Thinking
Competing to be the Best White Person
Relating to Black Men
The Helper
Final Thoughts
Feeling Projection
Strategic Questions for Projection
8. Balance
Driving in the Ocean
Intersectionality
So, How Do We Do This?
Awareness
Knowledge
Skills
Action/Advocacy
Final Thoughts
Feeling Balance
Strategic Questions for Balance
9. Integration
Capturing a Moment
Being With One Another
Final Thoughts
Feeling Integration
Strategic Questions for Integration
10. White Women's Tears
Women of Color and Tears
White Women's Tears As a Response to Sexism
Tears for Fears
The Impact of White Women's Tears
Tears in Immersion
Tears in Capitulation
Tears in Defense
Tears when Transitioning to Projection
Tears in Projection
Tears in Balance
Tears in Integration
Beyond Tears
11. If What, Now What?
Grow Awareness and Knowledge
Using Awareness and Knowledge to Inform Skills
Interrupt Oppression
Connect with People of Color
Final Thoughts (For Now)
Appendix A: Community Conversations: A Guide for Collective Praxis
Getting it Together
Things to Consider: Some Unhelpful Common Patterns of White Women
Let's Get Real: Using Serial Testimony for Deep Reflection
The Basics
Reflection Topics— Examples
Appendix B: Focus Group Participants
Definitions
Focus Group Participant Book List
Notes
Index
About the Authors
About New Society Publishers