Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity

Bell and Nkomo dive straight to the heart of the matter. They base their findings on comprehensive personal interviews of African-American and white women working as managers or executives. Ultimately, the authors hit the reader over the head with the obvious: People from strikingly different backgrounds bring profound personal differences to the workplace. Too often, organizations stupidly attempt homogenizing everyone into minor variations on the existing (typically---older, white, and male) leadership theme. Unusually (Bell and Nkomo cited no such cases), organizations may wisely embrace the differences so that the organization and its people benefit from a more perceptive and inclusive world view.Folks who need not spend their working hours "fitting in" contribute (A) more (B) less to the organization. Leaders who accept their people for who and what they are get (A) more (B) less from their subordinates. Guess where the authors suggest the readers take their outfits.

This book is a must for anyone who is interested in the career paths of women in the corporate world. That would include spouses of, grown children of, and parents of women. It is based upon Harvard research including in-depth case studies of both white and black women from childhood to the present day, career journeys one will find fascinating. When the reader returns to his/her workplace after completing this book, diversity will take on a more significant meaning. This book is also a useful tool in college career development classes. Rather than a dull read, it keeps the reader coming back for more.

Bravo...Being a Black woman with a Civil Engineering Degree from an Ivy League University, currently working in Construction Management, this book tells the story of "how it is". To me it is fusion of African American Studies, and Woman's Studies with a focus on the African American woman using the White woman as a control subject. I've seen the examples given in the book played out before me in my own career.To the authors: well done thank you for looking into a subject that society choses to ignore.

Once you start reading about these women's childhoods, it is hard to put down the book. You will find your own story amongst the women in this book. While it is sometimes heartwrenching, it is nevertheless hopeful. Every woman who has or is about to work in corporate America ought to read this book. I would also say buy one for your manager. The books says the things perhaps a lot of women executives have not been able to share. Professors Bell and Nkomo are to be commended for their scholarship and clear writing.

Our Separate Ways examines differences between black and white women's trials and triumphs as they rose in the business world; but it's much more than an account of experiences. Eight years of research contributed to and formed the foundation for this coverage, which blends in-depth case histories with profiles of insights gained on race, gender, and economics. Our Separate Ways is an invaluable title.