Ep 6 - Dr. Tina Opie & Dr. Beth Livingston: Embodying Equity and Sisterhood

Speaking Human-First

How do we build a more equitable world?

A world where historically marginalized groups find equal footing with power-dominant groups. A world where everyone does the necessary internal work, and extends grace to themselves and others when mistakes are made.

Dr. Tina Opie and Dr. Beth Livingston wrote the book, Shared Sisterhood: How to Take Collective Action for Racial and Gender Equity at Work. In it, they offer a framework for creating a more just world: Dig, Bridge, Advance.

Working these steps invites discomfort and requires uncomfortable conversations, but they are vital.

It’s time to get comfortable being uncomfortable, myself included.

Content note: Brief, non-graphic mention of sexual assault

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How formative childhood experiences of discrimination inform the work that both Dr. Livingston and Dr. Opie pursue today
• How the two built trust and became collaborators, laying the foundation for their Dig, Bridge, Advance framework
• Four cornerstones of building an authentic connection and building bridges with others
• Why it’s vital to distinguish between the armor historically marginalized people wear and the armor power-dominant people wear
• Why white women need to dig past their defensiveness in order to build connections with women from marginalized groups
• The importance of power-dominant groups acknowledging the truth of their history and their responsibility to do better now
• What Dr. Livingston and Dr. Opie view as the fundamental issues underlying why we struggle with equity

Learn more about Dr. Tina Opie:

• Website
• Instagram: @DrTinaOpie
• Twitter: @drtinaopie
• Connect with Dr. Opie on LinkedIn

Learn more about Dr. Beth Livingston:

• Website
• Instagram: @BethALivingston
• Twitter: @BethALivingston
• Connect with Dr. Livingston on LinkedIn

Learn more about Mary Knox Miller:

• Thought Leader Media
• Connect on LinkedIn

Resources:

• Shared Sisterhood: How to Take Collective Action for Racial and Gender Equity at Work
• Ida B. Wells
• Robert Cialdini
• Timnit Gebru
• Margaret Mitchell
• Dwyane Wade
• Gabrielle Union