Taking on the Big Boys book

This book provides a world of insight about woman's inequalities in the work place. After reading this book, it should be clear that about the mistreatment of people based on their genders.

Food for though?
Do corporations take texts such as this book seriously? If they do, is it serious enough?

How can we in this day and age allow gender inequalities when we have supposedly given total freedom to men and women in the United State?

I think it is terrible that people have factual information and nothing is done about it. Taking on the Big boys is just one book. There needs to be thousands in order to get the points across to all the hard headed people in this nation

Time Management

After reading many articles and and business journals, it is clear that time management is very important. Men and women need to be able to balance their careers as well as there family lives. It is clear that if there is too much time spent at work, the family will suffer. If a man or a woman has a child, they must be able to have a presence in their life. It is great to be ambitious and have career goals, but the well being of the family is sometimes more important. This pertains to both men and women. This is a homogeneous issue that all working adults must consider.

Men at Work

A valid point that I feel needs to be discussed comes in chapter 9 when Ellen Bravo makes the point that, “ Clearly many more men would be better fathers, sons, and husbands if they weren’t punished for it at work.” I am currently not out in the workforce I am currently a student in the undergraduate program here at Rollins, but I feel that it is a valid statement to say that men feel pressures at work when attending to certain family needs. So many older more traditional men are the head honchos in certain businesses. There is a very good chance that many of these older men frown upon males taking time off for family needs whether it is leaving a job early or not being able to come in to work so they are able to take care of their children. These elder bosses probably feel that women should be the ones taking care of the family and taking time off rather than a male, I am sure that if you say you have to leave because your child is ill that some bosses will frown upon that and question where is your wife or the child’s mother? Can’t she take care of him? I am not saying that every male superior is like that, I’m sure there are some superiors out there that encourage a father to take time off to be with the family, but there are still male superiors that will not accept a male leaving the workplace to attend to his family. A quote that confirms that there is still this idea that woman should take care of the family more than men is, “[I]t is women, more than men, who want to have children. If quantity of family time matters more to women, it is unfair for them to impose that value on their husbands.” This quote is from Marty Nemko, columnist for the American Conservative Union.

Merrill-Lynch Application???

From the readings in Taking on the Big Boys on page 75, for some reason, which I still do not understand, Merrill Lynch gave all applicants a test that included this question, "Which quality in women do you consider most important?" the choices included beauty, intelligence, dependency, independence, and something labeled "affectionateness. Each choice was assigned a certain amount of points- two each for dependency and affectionateness, and one for beauty. If the applicant answered intelligence or independence they got a zero. This might be one of the most disgraceful things I have ever heard of. Whether this survey was given 30 years ago or 100 years ago it absolutely inappropriate. To think that people that were the head of the application process in the 70's could still possibly be working there is sickening. This survey or test does not just represent the survey committee of Merrill Lynch but also represents the whole company and what the company stands for. Just to think about the logic behind the test is mind-boggling. If you were attracted to an independent woman or a intelligent woman then Merrill lynch did not want you working for them, if you are attracted to those type of women then will that affect your work performance? Will it affect your work hours? I just am unable to fathom the idea of this test. If anyone is able to explain any positive reason for this test please do, I am interested.

political parties and feminism

While reading Taking On The Boys, I have noticed that the author has taken a few shots on conservative and republican leaders and politicians. The book makes it seem as though if you are a feminist or if you are an advocate and supporter for equal pay and treatment for women in the workplace, it is imperative to take a more liberal approach to politics. In the past, I have supported the Republican Party, but now I question if it's possible to remain supportive the party if I want to see progress in having women treated more equally in the workplace. In addition, how do we get congress to be more pro-women for equal treatment? Do we just need to make more informed voting decisions on who campaigns for these certain positions on women in the workplace?

Husbands create work

On page 211, there is a statement about husbands create more work around the house than they perform. This is soooo very true. I would clean house diligently when I was a "home mother" and my husband would come in and within one hour everything would be messed. I would just pick up after him figuring that he was only home a short time and family togetherness was important to me and the three children.

Now that he is retired, the house is one big mess. I'm still working and I get home to find the house in shambles. Now my patience isn't there as before because I feel he is home all the time and should pitch in more. I let it go as I don't want to cause a fight.

Any takers on this one?
Claire

The New Mommy Track

Did anybody read the US News and World Report September 3, 2007 issue? Cover story entitled the above. About ways mothers blending family and work. Pertinent read. Enjoying the book from an academic perspective but very difficult read personally and emotionally.