Tina Opie

Beth A. Livingston

Gender equity is gaining steam--but not all women are seeing the benefits. We need Shared Sisterhood. Gender and racial bias persist in organizations and in society. And though strides have been made toward equity in the last few decades, it still has not been reached. Even more disconcerting, Black women and other women of color are being held back more than their White counterparts. Most advice for women encourages individuals to speak up, be assertive, or lean in--to assimilate into a system modeled after White men. But individual action is not enough. We need collective action, where marginalized individuals work together, so all women experience the benefits of professional growth and equality. We need Shared Sisterhood, and anyone, regardless of gender, can join in. In this book, Tina Opie and Beth A. Livingston explain how to build this crucial alliance through vulnerability, trust, empathy, and risk-taking, so that all women can advance in the workplace and create systemic change. Drawing from their research program of the same name, they break down three key parts of the process: Dig into your own assumptions around racioethnicity, gender, and power Bridge the divide between women of all racioethnic groups through authentic relationships Advance all women across the organization and beyond Balancing a mix of history, research, and real-life examples, this book encourages everyone to be a part of the sisterhood and push for gender equity that is equal for all.

How to Take Collective Action for Racial and Gender Equity at Work

Shared Sisterhood

Gender equity can't happen without racial equity. We need Shared Sisterhood. Bias persists in organizations and society. Despite efforts that have been made in the last few decades, gender and racioethnic equity still hasn’t been achieved. What's worse, Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Latina women are being held back more than their White counterparts. We need to change how we strive for equity. We must move beyond individual solutions toward collective action, where people from historically power-dominant and marginalized groups work together, so that all women experience the benefits of professional growth and equity. We need Shared Sisterhood, and anyone, regardless of gender, can join in. Professor Tina Opie first started Shared Sisterhood as a movement to drive gender and racial equity in organizations. Since then, she and professor Beth A. Livingston have worked together to spread the word to leaders across organizations, with thousands of followers joining the cause. In this book, they explain how to use vulnerability, trust, empathy, and risk-taking to build Shared Sisterhood and break down three key parts of the process: Dig into your own assumptions around racioethnicity, gender, and power Bridge the divide between women of all backgrounds through authentic relationships Advance all women across the organization and beyond Balancing a mix of history, research, and real-life examples—including the authors' own experiences—this book encourages everyone to join Shared Sisterhood and advance equity for all.

Harvard Business Review

Amy Gallo

Dorie Clark

Amy Edmondson

Relationships built on trust matter. Deep and meaningful connections, especially with other women, are critical to our careers and to our overall well-being and happiness. The bonds we build based on trust allow us to help one another, learn, and advance. But high-quality professional relationships are only possible with emotional openness and not all women, especially those from underrepresented groups, feel they can be vulnerable enough at work to develop these kinds of ties. Making Real Connections provides the research, advice, and practical tips you need to go beyond small talk with your colleagues and shallow, transactional networking to create professional relationships that are truly amazing. This book will inspire you to: Find authentic ways to grow your network Enjoy the rewards of having real friends at work while avoiding the pitfalls Seek out a sponsor—or become one Navigate problems when work relationships become draining The HBR Women at Work Series spotlights the real challenges and opportunities women experience throughout their careers. With interviews from the popular podcast of the same name and related articles, stories, and research, these books provide inspiration and advice for taking on issues at work such as inequity, advancement, and building community. Featuring detailed discussion guides, this series will help you spark important conversations about where we're at and how to move forward.

Tina Opie

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