Library Journal Review: Schnall, a journalist who runs the website Feminist, has asked 30 successful and well-known women—e.g., Gloria Steinem, Maya Angelou, Anita Hill, Nancy Pelosi—and a few feminist men why we have not had a woman president. Their answers are alike: the responsibility of women for family care, the expectation that leaders will be men, the failure to recruit women for political or leadership positions, women’s lesser access to money, and the stereotyped presentation of women in various media. Their proposals to get more women to run for public office or to climb the corporate ladder are similar: women must demand more access, overcome self-doubt, put themselves forward, and shame leaders into supporting greater diversity. We need women in office because, the respondents say, women bring a different perspective, they encourage consensus and collaboration, and they pay more attention to building relationships. But some of the interviewees caution that voters must cast their ballots based on issues, not gender. As Jane Fonda puts it in the book, “It’s less about gender sometimes and more about consciousness.” VERDICT This title will best appeal to the uninitiated but curious.—Cynthia Harrison, George Washington Univ., Washington, DC
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 13:16:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015