Stating that white women and women of color have much more in common than most people suspect and that this makes them natural allies, a cultural study examines the nature of interracial women's relationships. Tour.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Wilson and Russell (a white woman and a black woman, who wrote The Color Complex, on color consciousness among blacks, with Ronald Hall) offer here another thought-provoking mix of analysis and anecdote. Interracial friendships among girls are dropped during the teen years, influenced by issues of sexual maturity, classroom style and standards of beauty, according to the authors; they suggest that "we expand notions of what we call attractive." They note that popular notions of black women's promiscuity confuse differences of race with those of class; they also explore touchy subjects such as interracial dating and campus friendships. They observe that feminist politics differs between black women and white women and explore how stereotypes govern depictions of women's cross-race relations in the popular media. Some of the authors' advice: educate students about the legacy of tension, seek out materials that fight gender/race stereotypes and-because blacks know more about whites than vice versa-make sure white girls learn about the history and social factors that shape their black sisters.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From the Publisher
Since the advent of the women's movement, women have often expressed the belief that black and white women in society have a great many common concerns, and are in fact natural allies. The reality is more sobering. In Divided Sisters, Midge Wilson and Kathy Russell, the acclaimed authors of The Color Complex, tackle the nature of relationships between black and white women, and explore how they do, and don't, get along.
Based on scores of interviews, cultural literature and extensive research, Divided Sisters examines relations between black and white women as children, as adults, at school and in college, at work and at home. Truthfully as adults relatively few women feel they are close friends with a woman from another racial background. The book exposes many of the challenges and obstacles that complicate interracial relationships in a society with a long history of racial inequality. What Midge and Kathy discover is that the concerns and frustrations of black and white women are often different, and that these differences are frequently not communicated. For example, women thrown together for the first time in college are often ill-prepared to handle cultural differences in dress, customs, attitudes and background. In addition, peer pressure, economic and historical inequality, real or perceived racism, and fear, play a role in dividing rather than uniting women.
Divided Sisters is a landmark book that will open readers' eyes to the realities and challenges of bridging what is too frequently a cultural divide." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
Midge Wilson received her Ph.D. from University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) in the field of social psychology. She is currently Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at DePaul University. Her current home department is Women and Gender Studies.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Every Women Should Read This Book!,
By Lynne Lowe (Santa Barbara, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Divided Sisters (Hardcover)
I found this book accidentally while searching the shelves at the public library. It is an extremely important book that deals with a lot of issues most people would rather not talk about. Being a black woman it was helpful to read that other black women have the same feelings as I do. I enjoyed learning about the history of women in America. It opened my eyes to many things I never considered before. I have recommended this book to my white friends in hopes that they'll understand why I get angry and frustrated in a country that worships white women. It also helped me to see what goes on in their heads too. This book should be required reading in the high schools. Midge and Kathy did a wonderful job collecting data - this book is awesome.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
LIKE AN OPERATION: IT HURTS, BUT THE HEALING IS WORTH IT....,
This review is from: Divided Sisters (Paperback)
With the precision of neurosurgeons, Midge and Kathy cut into our minds and expose to the light all of the prejudices, notions, beliefs, etc, the White and Black women have about each other, from the skin we're in, the hair we wear, to the interracial dating thing (OUCH!!!). Both authors weave factual information with personal stories and accounts from other women of both races, and the book is an all-over good read: it's a brave endeavor by 2 races of women to form new bridges of understanding over very, very troubled waters. If you have a friend of the opposite race and there are "issues" between you, perhaps this book can break down the reasons and solutions and let it be known that women need other women, period, in this "man's world." Insightful AND essential.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read,
By A Customer
This review is from: Divided Sisters (Hardcover)
From the perspective of a white woman engaged to a black male, (and a woman who has had a racially diverse group of friends throughout life), I found the book very informative -- in terms of understanding the lines that have been forced between white and black women. It does a great job in explaining the attitudes of black women -- attitudes that white women do not normally understand. It is a must read for the woman who wants to change the racially divided society that we live in today.
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