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Social Science Women's Studies

Looking White People in the Eye

Gender, Race, and Culture in Courtrooms and Classrooms

by (author) Sherene Razack

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Apr 1998
Category
Women's Studies, Discrimination, Discrimination & Race Relations
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780802078988
    Publish Date
    Apr 1998
    List Price
    $48.95
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780802009289
    Publish Date
    Apr 1998
    List Price
    $91.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442670204
    Publish Date
    Apr 1998
    List Price
    $91.00

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Description

In this book Sherene Razack explores what happens when whites look at non-whites, and in particular at non-white women. Most studies examining this encounter between dominant and subordinate groups focus on how it occurs in films, books, and popular culture. In contrast, Razack addresses how non-white women are viewed, and how they must respond, in classrooms and courtrooms. Examining the discussion of equity issues in the classroom and immigration and sexual violence cases in the courtroom, she argues that non-white women must often present themselves as culturally different instead of oppressed. Seen as victims of their own oppressive culture who must be pitied and rescued by white men and women, non-white women cannot then be seen as subjects. This book makes clear why we must be wary of educational and legal strategies that begin with saving 'Other' women. It offers powerful arguments for why it is important to examine who are the saviours and who are the saved, and what we must do to disrupt these historical relations of power.

About the author

Sherene Razack is a full professor in the Department of Social Justice Education, at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. She has published At the Limits of Justice: Women of Colour On Terror (2014, ed. With Suvendrini Perera); States of Race (2011, co-editor with Malinda Smith and Sunera Thobani); (2008) Casting Out: Race and the Eviction of Muslims From Western Law and Politics; (2004) Dark Threats and White Knights: The Somalia Affair, Peacekeeping and the New Imperialism. (2002, Editor) Race, Space and the Law: Unmapping a white settler society. Toronto: Between the Lines;(1998) Looking White People in the Eye: gender, race and culture in courtrooms and classrooms; (1991) Canadian feminism and the law: The women's legal education and action fund and the pursuit of equality. She is a founding member of Researchers and Academics of Colour for Equality.

Sherene Razack's profile page