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

by Tina Opie, Beth A. Livingston

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

Dig into your own assumptions around racioethnicity, gender, and powerBridge the divide between women of all backgrounds through authentic relationshipsAdvance 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Race, Social Justice, Womens, Activism, Business, Feminism

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 11, 2022

Reviews

[K Mullett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am lucky enough to work in a company that cares deeply about equity. Yet even so, this book taught me that the work is never done. What I appreciated most was that the authors provided concrete, actionable steps to start/support the reader on their journey into shared sisterhood. Admittedly at times I felt uncomfortable when I realized that my reactions and feelings about certain situations were down to an unconscious bias - but I'm glad I did. It proves the authors' point that we all need to Dig. I'll be recommending this book not just to the women I work with but to anyone who will listen to me. We could all do with being a little wiser in this area.

[Rebecca Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its 2022 and the post-racial society that Obama's presidency seemed to promise has not come to fruition. In fact, quite the opposite. Our country is incredibly polarized with some wanting to preserve power and structures as they have always been (and with it, structural racism and inequity) and others wanting to dismantle systemic racism and finally create the truly democratic society we have always claimed to be but are not. There have been many incredible books about the individual journey towards antiracism, but simply becoming antiracist is not enough, we must also tackle unconscious racism and bias in our interpersonal relationships (daily microagressions) and structural/systemic racism (in our laws, policing, workplaces, etc).

This BRILLIANT book by Drs. Tina Opie & Beth Livingston addresses ALL three levels -- individual, interpersonal and institutional -- and provides a beautiful framework (dig and bridge) for how we can each do this work. In addition to the framework, the pairing of the different perspectives of a Black woman and a White woman yields unbelievable insights into the different experiences and perspectives of each. Opie and Livingston offer their own experience, individually and as colleagues and friends, in the service of our greater learning and empathy, and in so doing, demonstrate the Shared Sisterhood that was notably absent in first wave Feminism.

I'm so grateful to have read this book, which offers not only a call to action, but a beautiful guide to action. Required reading for all.

[Vanessa Bohns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is special. It is able to convey the complexity of bias and what it takes to create an equitable organization while still being immensely readable and hopeful. I don’t know any book like it that is so intersectional and multidimensional in its analysis while also being intimate, personal, and practical. Truly a must read for everyone.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply researched, yet easily readable book presenting a new framework to understand gender and racial equity, particularly in the workplace. Tina and Beth make the case for a multilevel approach to addressing inequities in the workplace. First by deep introspection, then bridging interpersonal relationships and working collectively to heal systems. Their strong research coupled with real-world examples from their own lives and friendship made for a compelling, interesting read. Thank you!

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many books coming out these days about how to address race or gender divides. There are fewer that focus on both. And even fewer written by a mixed race team of authors putting their recommendations to work real time.

Powerful. Hopeful. Action-oriented. A fantastic guidebook.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got my copy yesterday and finished it in one day. Man, was this book mind blowing. I need to meet these authors. This is a subject I’ve been scratching my head about for years in the workplace and about a hundred lightbulbs went off while reading it. You should see my notes. Talk about changing the world - this book crushed it.

[Adam Benforado · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHARED SISTERHOOD is a powerful and necessary book that offers a new path to equity. We need to stop thinking about gender equity and racial equity as separate goals. We need to stop focusing our attention on treating individual character flaws and start thinking about collective action. Tina Opie and Beth Livingston have drawn up an essential blueprint for remaking our organizations and society to achieve a more just world. While they offer a sharp indictment of the status quo, this is not a “downer” of a read; it is an inspiring book that encourages all of us to rethink our assumptions and take action!

[Kerri Klotz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and extremely insightful! Would highly recommend!

[Lianne Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly insightful! Highly Recommend this book! I love the concept of Shared Sisterhood and collective action.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shared Sisterhood is a powerful and insightful book that explores the intersection between gender and racioethnic equity. While most other resources seeking to address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) solely focus on the role of the individual and neglect the interpersonal and institutional/systemic dimensions of DEI, Professors Opie and Livingston thoroughly describe the critical role each level plays in perpetuating disparities as well as effective strategies for collaboratively progressing towards equity. Through research-based, practical strategies, this book equips the reader with intrapersonal (Dig), interpersonal (Bridge), and institutional/systemic (Collective Action) tools for collaboratively pursuing equity for all. The book explores the critical roles that risk taking, empathy, vulnerability, and trust play. Through historical and contemporary examples as well as their own friendship and professional relationship, Professors Opie and Livingston offer the reader relatable examples of how Shared Sisterhood is an ongoing, fruitful, and relatable way of living for increasing self-awareness, fostering authentic relationships, and collaboratively building a more just society. Shared Sisterhood is an exceptional resource that I intend to refer back to often to continue to apply in my life.

Thank you Netgalley and Harvard Business Review Press for the ARC and the opportunity to offer an unbiased review.

[Alice Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful to find this book and the Shared Sisterhood model. Over the years I've been frustrated by the ironically exclusionary approaches to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. This model helps address how to include allies while respecting personal boundaries and values. The running example of the women's suffrage movement resonated with me given the political environment now: we must work together with allies who are not a part of our racioethnic community to change our world. I also appreciated that the authors specifically said that they were speaking from their perspectives as an African American woman and a White woman. While I definitely identified with the model and many of their points, I respected that they didn't assume that everything would apply to my experience as an Asian American woman. There are a lot of concepts to unpack in this book and I'll be spending more time with it. Thanks to the authors for being vulnerable and sharing their Shared Sisterhood with the rest of us.

[Kellylynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. It has so much that is needed in the current world. But I struggled with the way some of the information was presented. I struggled to connect with the writing and the authors fully.

Now don't get me wrong, there is very important things noted in the book. I have highlighted a few areas that I definitely want to go back and process more thoroughly. And it definitely has made me think through how I engage in my interactions with people, not only at work but in my personal life as well. Multiple times while reading the book I thought about how this would have been so much better as a seminar or training event. Some of the things just did not come across well in print without the interaction.

I actually won this one in one of the giveaways.

[Dorothy Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant. Though it's listed as a business book (and it is), individual readers who are not in the world of business have much to glean from it. The authors (one white, one black) lean on their own relationship as well as decades of experience in academia and business. As the subtitle suggests, the book focuses on "how to take collective action for racial and gender equality." It's deep, challenging, honest, and practical. I esp. appreciated chapter 6, which focuses on personal and institutional blocks to achieving shared sisterhood. I think this would be a terrific book for church leaders to read!

[Katie Stein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat repetitive but the thinking, feeling, doing sections had some great insight and I like that they push you to actively think about these questions instead of passively experiencing. Also a big fan of their approach to failure.

[Semin Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great thought-provoking book! I appreciate that this book is all about how to move forward and how "I" can contribute, starting by looking deeper into myself.

[Ron Frampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book on racial and gender equity at work.

[Sami Danielsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a book that I think is an important read. Tina and Beth use both historical and modern examples of sisterhood to inform readers how to look into themselves and create lasting connections. It is important to keep in mind that this was printed by the Harvard Business Review Press. It tone is very academic and formal which meant that even though it was pretty short, it still took my awhile to finish. However, this is definitely a book you would want to take your time with to think deeply and critically about what is being said.