Shared Sisterhood

Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV

Season 3 Episode 7

Episode Title: Shared Sisterhood

Guest: Dr. Tina Opie

 

Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV is a podcast that explores all things diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related. In each episode, Oscar and his guests have lively discussions around DEI topics, explore the latest research on the topic, and discuss the implications so that listeners will be more knowledgeable about the topics and be able to apply the insights to their lives.

 

Show Summary: “This is what Black women know: When push comes to shove, white women choose race over gender - every single time.” - Kim McLarin

 

Whether we admit it or not, gender and racial bias is still present in the organizations and in society. And though the past few decades have shown progress, there’s so much improvement to be done, especially with black and other colored women experiencing more disadvantages compared to their white counterparts.

 

Dr. Tina Opie is an award-winning researcher, professor  and management consultant who combines theory and practice on the power of authenticity and how to create a more diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace in several industries. 

 

In this episode, she shares about her upcoming book ”Shared Sisterhood”, co-authored with Dr. Beth Ann Livingston. Dissecting through the lens of history, research and real-life examples of the white women privilege, the racial stereotypes that even accomplished black women experience, overcoming racial trauma, and the vision of all linking arms towards equality in the workplace and the world.

Exceptional Highlights:

 

• White women choose race over gender because of the way power structures our society. Being white women gives proximity to white men, who are the power brokers and holders throughout the history of the world. 

 

• The central focus and philosophy behind Shared Sisterhood is the value of equity and power in the workplace, which is quite distinct from friendship. For systemic change to happen for all women, it also needs to translate across races.

 

• In capitalist society, people are greedy and power is structured as a zero sum game. Everything gained by others is a loss for them.

 

Show Highlights:

Definition of Shared Sisterhood

 

06:06 Dr. Tina Opie

 

• Shared sisterhood is when you work together across differences, develop authentic connections, and then link arms and work to dismantle systemic inequity.

 

The Dig and Bridge Framework forming authentic workplace relationships

 

07:38 Dr. Tina Opie

 

• Dig is about surfacing the assumptions that you have about identity. How did you come to think about your own race, your ethnicity, the ethnicity of other people? Bridge is about authentically connecting with people and keeping that connection authentic. 

 

What is an ally, accomplice, and co-conspirator

 

20:06 Dr. Tina Opie

 

• An ally believes in equity in theory but they're not about to sacrifice anything. The next level is an accomplice who believes in equity and is willing to make a sacrifice and do something, but it tends to be on their own terms and not aligned with the needs of the group that they are fighting for. A co-conspirator pursues collective action by using his social, financial and political capital to make change.
  
  

Men’s role in this movement

 

37:38 Dr. Tina Opie

 

• Masculine traits like assertiveness, being tall, and stomping your fist are seen as necessary to get ahead. Adopting feminine values like empathy, authenticity, vulnerability, and risk-taking for the common good produces the kind of leaders that are needed more in the workplace.

 

Important Links:

Dr. Tina Opie

Opie Consulting Group
Shared Sisterhood Book

 

Call to Action:

Subscribe to Diversity Matters and get exclusive access to all episodes of Beyond the Mill, which is my live diversity dialogues talk show that I host on campus at Rutgers University-Camden. 

 

Episode Sponsor Links: 

The PHD Project

 

Producer Links:

WH Consulting Firm

Diversity Matters Podcast Section

Pod Kai Media

 

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