When organizations, White women, and other individuals use the term “Women,” they knowingly or unknowingly exclude Women of Color while privileging White women.

Does acknowledging their whiteness trigger White women’s confusion? Discomfort? Distress? Defensiveness? Relief? Some other emotion? If it does, it’s not surprising because many self-identified White women aren’t used to hearing themselves described as “White Women.” They see themselves as raceless women or individuals. If more people are now acknowledging women’s racial differences, what does that mean? What do those of us in the legal profession need to understand about “White Women” and how acknowledging race and gender fits into our efforts to become authentic women who value and are valued by all women?

IILP is partnering with organizations across the county to offer innovative self-development workshops that explore these questions, among others, and empower women to be more authentic women in their law practices and in their lives. The workshops will be led by Professor Emeritus Janet E. Helms, author of the McGuffey Longevity Award winning book, A Race Is A Nice Thing to Have: A Guide to Being a White Person or Understanding the White Persons in Your Life and recipient of the 2023 American Psychological Association Presidential Citation for her scholarship in promoting anti-racism.

Dr. Helms will be joined by Dr. Maryam Jernigan-Noesi and Dr. Carlton E. Green. Dr. Jernigan-Noesi is a psychologist and clinical researcher who advises legal teams engaged in cases where race and racism are identified as salient. She works nationally with legal juvenile and adult criminal justice systems to provide professional development and training on racial equity. Dr. Green is an award-winning psychologist with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion with an emphasis on race and racial issues.

This program is targeted for all lawyers who self-identify as women, but everyone who is interested in being more inclusive is invited to participate  

Questions? Contact Info@TheIILP.com.