What's Up with White Women?

Reviews

"Govan and Smith trace stages of identity development that they observe in white women as we come to recognize our dual locations in sexist systems that oppress us and racial systems which privilege us. The book is alive with white women's testimonies on the raw but rewarding work of observing often hidden power systems. This analysis helps white women with two simultaneous character-forming tasks: healing from wounds of sexism and using the power we get from privilege to weaken racism in ourselves and in the world."
— Peggy McIntosh , PhD, author, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack , founder, National SEED Project on Inclusive Curriculum, Wellesley Centers for Women

"Bold, poignant, and provocative, Govan and Smith have done a masterful job of highlighting vital voices, frameworks, and analysis of white women and racism that is rare. This work is much needed in this time of racial reckoning. This is a must read for those looking to go deep to understand how complicity, niceness, and silence can be equally as devastating as racism itself. Thank you!"
— Tyrone C. Howard , PhD, professor, UCLA Dept of Education and Black Male Institute

"Combining a joint approach for addressing sexism, in partnership with the privilege of whiteness, along with the proposed identity development model and concrete actions, this book promises to move the work of anti-racist white women forward by leaps and bounds. If you identify as white and female and are serious about your anti-racism work in the world, this is your next book."
— Kathy Obear , Center for Transformation and Change, author, But I'm NOT Racist and In It For The Long Haul

"Is there a need for a book on white women and racial justice work? Having read this book, the answer is clearly yes. Govan and Smith have struck a powerful balance which allows this book to at once speak truth, offer hope, and expect the reader to act. The experience of both authors' ever-deepening work in this area shines through and is a valuable model for how white women can engage in racial justice practice."
— Dr. Heather W. Hackman , president, Hackman Consulting Group

"White women are both bulwarks in maintaining white supremacy and leaders of resistance to it. This book is an insightful, provocative, and practical guide to the range of ways white women respond to the intersection of gender and race. With nuance, and attention to complexity, Govan and Smith do an excellent job of teasing apart the many roles that white women play in our communities and offer them a challenge to examine the complicated impact of gender and race in their lives. Filled with poignant, powerful, and honest stories, this book offers a toolkit for white women to become more effective racial justice allies. Highly recommended."
— Paul Kivel , educator, activist, author, Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice

"I always appreciate it when white women tell other white women about being white women. This book does not disappoint. Reading through the developmental process leading from Immersion to Integration, I saw decades of my interactions with white women finally making sense! The stories, histories, examples, and experiences that Govan and Smith provide are both personal, painful, and enlightening. This book offers a timely opportunity for white women to learn more about themselves as they work toward the Integration of their race and gender intersections."
— Dr. Debra Ren-Etta Sullivan , Seattle Black Child Development Institute

"Govan and Smith have created an excellent resource to help white women better understand their conflicting position as victims of sexism and as perpetrators of white supremacy and racism. The book offers new ways of thinking and tools to enable white women to overcome lack of information, fear, and resistance, which will better prepare them to work to dismantle systems of oppression. I salute the authors for having the wisdom and courage to write this valuable book."
— Pamela Smith Chambers , training director, The Beyond Diversity Resource Center, co-author, The Anti-Racist Cookbook

" What's Up with White Women? is a turning point in our collective understanding of a group that exercises racial privilege but is trapped by sexism. The authors deftly walk readers through an understanding of white women with bravery and empathy rarely seen in books on anti-oppression."
— Robin Parker , executive director, Beyond Diversity Resource Center, co-author, The Anti-Racist Cookbook