New Black Sister Network pledges solidarity and support

New Black Sister Network pledges solidarity and support

Today (February 4) sees the launch of Black Sister Network – a dedicated network within Black British Academics exclusively for Black and Brow women.
It has been developed by Dr Deborah Gabriel, Founder and Director of Black British Academics in response to the continued marginalisation of women of colour in academia.
While measures to address gendered inequalities have achieved a measure of success for White women, these have failed to tackle the combined impact of race, gender and class.
For example, although there are just 85 black professors in the UK out of 18,510 only 15 are women (2011/12 HESA record based on the full person equivalent and using their standard rounding methodology).
Black Sister Network aims to promote self-empowerment for Black and Brown women in academia through collective activism that will feed into the wider strategies of Black British Academics to tackle racial inequality in the higher education sector.
Black Sister Network will also be developing a unique body of research through its membership to inform race equality policy and practice.
Commenting on the launch of Black Sister Network, Dr Gabriel said:
“We recognise that Black and Brown women experience multiple forms of discrimination that hinders their progression within academia but this fact has either escaped the attention of those who lead the race equality agenda or has been deliberately ignored.
“Black Sister Network has been launched with the dual purpose of providing a mutually supportive space and providing a position of strength and solidarity from which to drive forward equality and progression.”

6 thoughts on “New Black Sister Network pledges solidarity and support

  • 4th February 2014 at 6:44 am
    Permalink

    This is absolutely fantastic and well over due. Any female initiative in HE for women only serves and benefits white women so black sisters must empower and support each other. I am definitely behind this initiative and would like to sign up. I will share this at Oxford University and encourage other sisters to join.
    Thank you for this move.

  • 4th February 2014 at 2:28 pm
    Permalink

    I am pleased to see the launch of this new and exciting network. I would like to offer my support and knowledge as a black professional female to enhance and provide firm support to this very worthy cause. A launch of this up and coming active forum would be magnificent where we could meet and gather like-minded black women to create healthy and productive partnerships.

  • 4th February 2014 at 4:42 pm
    Permalink

    I whole heartedly support this fantastic initiative. Looking forward to being involved in progressive collaborative developmental provision

  • 4th February 2014 at 9:52 pm
    Permalink

    This sounds good. I would like to be involved in this and network with like-minded people. A brilliant idea.

  • 5th February 2014 at 3:48 am
    Permalink

    I am really excited to be part of Deborah's vision to connect Black British women in Academia.It fills a void.The Black Sister Network creates a space for women with similar goals and lived experiences to explore conversations,collaborations and advancement of ideals and ideas which will create value for society.

  • 5th February 2014 at 11:46 am
    Permalink

    Fantastic news! Long overdue. Look forward to learning and mutual support.

Comments are closed.