Beyond Gender : The New Politics of Work and Family
Editorial Reviews
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In 1963, The Feminine Mystique blew the cap off the frustration many American women felt over their role in a society that espoused democracy but smugly discriminated against the female half of its populace. More than 30 years later, in Beyond Gender, Betty Friedan acknowledges that she was never quite comfortable with the rage uncorked by loosing the genie of sexual politics, and wonders aloud if pitting women against men, "the oppressed against oppressors," serves to open up most women's lives. Gathering a group of scholars, policy experts, media mavens, and business and labor leaders, Friedan explores a meandering collection of ideas intended to replace the zero-sum game in which women gain only as men lose. This "paradigm shift," she hopes, could bring people together around life-enhancing work, family, and community issues. For example, the vast job cuts of corporate downsizing could be realigned to allow people to stay employed if they agreed to work--and be paid for--fewer hours. Supporters argue that one benefit of such a policy to families would be more parental supervision. Critics side with Joyce Miller of the U.S. Labor Department, who notes vehemently that "Part-time work and work sharing are fine for those people who can afford it, but you don't share going to a grocery and buying a loaf of bread." Although Beyond Gender offers its share of naive or overly familiar solutions to major social problems, it's refreshing to see Friedan back in the fray tossing out good and bad ideas like so many pitches for the rest of us to take a whack at. --Francesca Coltrera
Review
"Betty Friedan remains feminism's foremost visionary and thinker." -- Katie Roiphe, author of Last Night In Paradise: Sex and Morals at the Century's End
"Betty Friedan's Beyond Gender breaks through the old schisms and divisions and gives us a new context for discussing a common agenda. Her book opens the door to a new debate on the relationship between family, the workplace and society that could help reshape the national agenda in the coming century." -- Jeremy Rifkin, Author of The End of Work: The Decline of the Global Labor Force and the Dawn of the Post-Market Era
"With her usual clarity and perception, Betty Friedan explores the forces working against the family, and how fathers and mothers, employers, communities, and our country's policy makers can begin to give our children all they need to become healthy, productive, and secure adults." -- Marian Wright Edelman, President, The Children's Defense Fund
"Betty Friedan slices right to the heart of what is perhaps the biggest problem we face. The rich are getting richer and everyone else is barely holding on or sinking. The right wing is calling on people to blame their troubles on the down and out. And progressives are too divided to push back. Friedan begins to piece together a brilliant solution. Every person of conscience should read this book and get on the bandwagon. I'm there." -- Arlie Russell Hochschild, Author of The Time Bind: When Work Becomes Home and Home Becomes Work
"Betty Friedan sparked the women's movement with The Feminine Mystique. With this book she seeks nothing less than to shift the paradigm of gender politics beyond issues of women versus men to address the needs of people -- as family members, workers, and citizens." -- Douglas J. Besharov, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
"An energetic presentation of conservative and progressive ideas on creating a more liveable society -- spiked with the spirit of Betty Friedan who pokes and prods us all to get out of our traditional political boxes and work together for the common good." -- Susan Bianchi-Sand, Executive Director, National Committee on Pay Equity, Chair of the Council of Presidents of National Women's Organizations
Beyond Gender : The New Politics of Work and Family
Beyond Gender : The New Politics of Work and Family,Betty Friedan,Brigid O'Farrell,Woodrow Wilson Center Press,0943875846,Business & Economics,Downsizing of organizations,Employment,Employment Of Women,Feminism & Feminist Theory,Gender Studies,Human Resources & Personnel Management,Labor,Married women,Social conditions,Sociology,Sociology Of Women,United States,Women employees,Religion / General
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