Unpacking Sexism and White Privilege in Pursuit of Racial Justice

We are at a particular moment in the United States where white women have increasingly begun to understand the need for us to more effectively navigate multicultural partnerships. We’ve seen many news stories of how white women weaponize their privilege by calling the police on Black people for anything from trying to enter their own apartments, talking in pools, building patios on their own property, to telling them to leash their dogs. We’ve also witnessed white women’s racist anti-Asian rants caught on video. In the 2020 election, white women provided an even larger base of support for Donald Trump than in 2016 and actively participated in the January 2021 Insurrection at the Nation’s Capital Building. We have also shown up in large numbers at Black Lives Matter protests and worked to mobilize our white colleagues, friends, and families across the country to oppose racist violence.

At the same time as we’re seeing heightened awareness of racism, we are experiencing a public reckoning with sexism as witnessed in the Women's March, #MeToo, and the upsurge in intersectional feminism. In all of these instances, white women have both hindered and helped to advance social justice.

While white women face experiences of gender oppression, we also benefit from white privilege. In what ways do these two phenomena work together to create misunderstandings, missed collaborations, and acts of supremacy?

 

​What you'll learn.

In this 2-day workshop (July 12-13th) we use a developmental model to examine how our identities change as we grow in our understanding of personal and institutional oppression. We will use highly interactive methods including reflective writing, video clips, small group conversations, and storytelling to take a deeper look into our learned patterns of behavior.

​Recognizing these patterns with compassion rather than shame helps us name and practice strategies to better collaborate in multicultural settings. During our time together we will co-create a community where our spirits are renewed and our commitment to social justice is strengthened.​​

Participants will…

• Analyze the complex intersection of internalized sexism and white privilege and how this plays out in our lives.

• Learn and apply a model of white women’s anti-racist identity development.

• Share strategies to heal ourselves and counter racist and sexist socialization in order to improve our cross-cultural relationships and better advocate for systemic change.

 

Who may participate?

We are two cisgender white women who offer a model that examines the harmful impact of white supremacy and patriarchy within a society that promotes a false gender binary. This space is intended for cis and trans women and non-binary folx who have internalized feminine gender norms. Any white women and gender non-conforming people who want to look at the ways we’ve navigated sexism and misogyny and internalized white superiority are welcome to attend. Multiracial women who present as or are perceived as white and want to interrogate internalized white superiority are also welcome.

 

Details

Facilitators: Ilsa Govan, M.A. & Tilman Smith

Location: The Seattle Girl's School

Schedule: 9:00am-3:00pm both days

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This workshop has been approved for the following Clock Hours & CEUs:​

• 9 CEUs by the Washington State Chapter, National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists and Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Our Provider number is #1975-369

 

Pricing Information:

• Large for Profit Companies ($750): These tickets are intended for participants whose workplaces can provide registration for your behalf.

• Large Nonprofit, Public Sector, and Medium For-Profit Companies ($650): These tickets are intended for participants whose workplaces can provide registration for your behalf.

• Medium Nonprofit, Public Sector, and Small For-Profit Companies ($550): These tickets are intended for participants whose workplaces can provide registration for your behalf.

• Small Nonprofit and Public Sector ($500): These tickets are intended for participants whose workplaces can provide registration for your behalf.

• Individual ($450): These tickets are for individuals paying for their own attendance.

• Low Income or Student ($75): These tickets are reserved for cash-poor, working-class and student participants.

 

*No refunds for any reason 7 days prior to the workshop, although you are welcome to gift your seat to a colleague*

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A copy of the book What's Up with White Women?: Unpacking Sexism and White Privilege in Pursuit of Racial Justice by Ilsa Govan & Tilman Smith is included with the workshop.

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A light breakfast and coffee will be provided in the morning.

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*If you are registering for someone else, please be sure to include their email so they get future notifications about the event.*