Presumed Incompetent: The Intersections of Race and Class for Women in Academia

by Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs (Editor), Yolanda Flores Niemann (Editor), Carmen G. Gonzalez (Editor)

Presumed Incompetent is a pathbreaking account of the intersecting roles of race, gender, and class in the working lives of women faculty of color. Through personal narratives and qualitative empirical studies, more than 40 authors expose the daunting challenges faced by academic women of color as they navigate the often hostile terrain of higher education, including hiring, promotion, tenure, and relations with students, colleagues, and administrators. The narratives are filled with wit, wisdom, and concrete recommendations, and provide a window into the struggles of professional women in a racially stratified but increasingly multicultural America.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Education, Race, Social Justice, Academia, Academic

588 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Katherine Lavelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a few years old, but it is excellent, particularly as a way to think about ways to promote anti-racist policies in the academy. It includes 30 essays from different intersectional experiences of individuals working in higher ed. Not only do the authors disclose their personal and painful experiences, they provide a number of solutions for administrators and colleagues about ways to fostering a more inclusive and supportive climate. The only flaw in the book is that it does not cover a wider range of identities (thinking about Muslim and international colleagues), but it is a great starting point for developing policies and practices to be supportive of intersectional identity in the workplace.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tough read, in that it’s a long book with detailed stories and lots of scientific backing. But it is so important that we read these stories and try to do better for women, and specifically underrepresented women in academia.

Admittedly, I haven’t read the whole book yet, but I plan to continue picking it up a chapter at a time!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly important book. Carefully crafted, comprehensive, and courageous. A 'must read' for anyone in higher ed.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've pulled this book out to review during these first stages of mentoring a young woman who studies at the college where I teach. She's considering studies in education and social work, and she is a Woman of Color. What will she be facing in her studies? What is she already facing? How do I stay mindful and intentional in my work with her? I ask these questions again now as I have in the past various times when I've read and reread the essays contained here. These are directly from the experiences and expertise of Women of Color in Academia. Five different categories provide the structure for the various offerings: General Campus Climate, Faculty/Student Relationships, Networks of Allies, Social Class in Academia, and Tenure and Promotion.

Too often we dismiss these women outright or indirectly, and that is painful for me to admit being a Woman of Color myself - but always? I wince realizing that I have benefited in various ways because of the complex ways we categorize each other. Have I looked the other way at times? At other times I've felt the sting of exclusion or loneliness yet internalized blame rather than effectively addressed the issues. When we must continue painful conversations about women's rights and opportunities --and that is certainly these days -- we need to learn from courageous women like those who contribute to this collection.

Caution: Read this book with an open attitude and a sense of humbleness, especially if you are an educator, administrator, or staff member at a college or university. This is NOT about teaching students or addressing "student problems" (note one section is about Faculty and Students); rather, it IS about how we treat each other as professionals. It is not a comfortable book to read, nor do I recommend reading it quickly. Whatever discomfort you find, you will also find valuable perspectives from articulate, strong, and complex women.

[Crystal Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

i reallllly needed this book and always will.

[Laurel Kristick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mix of voices and the messages in this collection were powerful. Highly recommend to anyone working in academia.

[Roxanna López]

Review to come soon.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important collection of essays and reminds us how vital our work towards equity is and how far we have to go... we are nowhere close to where we need to be.

[X · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for low-income and working class women of color in academia.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presumed Incompetent: The Intersections of Race and Class for Women in Academia (Paperback)
by Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs

ILL, from the library
https://library.villanova.edu/Find/Re...
Table of Contents:
Facing down the spooks /
Angela Mae Kupenda
Waking up to privilege : intersectionality and opportunity /
Stephanie A. Shields
A prostitute, a servant, and a customer-service representative : a Latina in academia /
Carmen R. Lugo-Lugo
Black/Out : the white face of multiculturalism and the violence of the Canadian Academic Imperial Project /
Delia D. Douglas
They forgot Mammy had a brain /
Sherrée Wilson
Present and unequal : a third-wave approach to voice parallel experiences in managing oppression and bias in the academy /
Kimberly R. Moffitt, Heather E. Harris, and Diane A. Forbes Berthoud
Navigating the academic terrain : the racial and gender politics of elusive belonging /
Linda Trinh Võ
Visibly invisible : the burden of race and gender for female students of color striving for an academic career in the sciences /
Deirdre M. Bowen
Stepping in and stepping out : examining the way anticipatory career socialization impacts identity negotiation of African American women in academia /
Cerise L. Glenn
Silence of the lambs /
Angela Onwuachi-Willig
On being special /
Serena Easton
Are student teaching evaluations holding back women and minorities? The perils of "doing" gender and race in the classroom /
Sylvia R. Lazos
Notes toward racial and gender justice ally practice in legal academia /
Dean Spade
Where's the violence? The promise and perils of teaching women of color studies? /
Grace Chang
Working across racial lines in a not-so-post-racial world /
Margalynne J. Armstrong and Stephanie M. Wildman
Native women maintaining their culture in the white academy /
Michelle M. Jacob
Dis/jointed appointments : solidarity amidst inequity, tokenism, and marginalization /
Michelle A. Holling, May C. Fu, and Roe Bubar
What's love got to do with it? : life teachings from multiracial feminism /
Kari Lerum
Sharing our gifts /
Beth A. Boyd
Igualadas /
Francisca de la Riva-Holly
The Port Hueneme of my mind : the geography of working-class consciousness in one academic career /
Constance G. Anthony
On community in the midst of hierarchy (and hierarchy in the midst of community) /
Ruth Gordon
The making of a token : a case study of stereotype threat, stigma, racism, and tokenism in academe /
Yolanda Flores Niemann
Lessons from a portrait : keep calm and carry on /
Andrien Katherine Wing
"No hay mal que por bien no venga" : a journey to healing as a Latina, lesbian law professor /
Elvia R. Arriola
La lucha : Latinas surviving political science /
Jessica Lavariega Monforti
Free at last! : no more performance anxieties in the academy 'cause Stepin Fetchit has left the building /
Mary-Antoinette Smith
African American women in the academy : quelling the myth of presumed incompetence /
Sherri L. Wallace, Sharon E. Moore, Linda L. Wilson, and Brenda G. Hart
The experiences of an academic "misfit" /
Kelly Ervin
Lessons from the experiences of women of color working in academia /
Yolanda Flores

[Mills College Library]

378.12 P942 2012

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must.