“Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead:” A review

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http://www.peoplesworld.org/lean-in-women-work-and-the-will-to-lead-a-review/

Every mother has a head lice story. Mine takes place after a series of recurring outbreaks at the local Y daycare. I was angry and humiliated when the frustrated staff unjustly accused not only the long hair of our three little girls, but also that of our fluffy St. Bernard Brandy of being the vector. Sheryl Sandberg's tale - equally mortifying - involves her little boy and little girl and the corporate jet of eBay's CEO John Donahue. There you have it in a nitshell: women of every race and class face corresponding challenges, but the dramatically different circumstances leave you wondering if there's the basis for an alliance?

In "Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead," Sandberg doesn't address that issue, rather, she shares lessons she's learned during her climb to the top of corporate America as Facebook's chief operating officer and former Google executive. She advises women to go after leadership positions and "lean in" to their careers. Negotiate aggressively for better pay and better positions, she says.

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There was a time in the history of the American women's movement when, parallel to the suffragist struggle, middle-class and even wealthy women lent their energies and passion, voices and resources to the struggles of poor and working-class women. They fought for higher wages and safe working conditions for factory girls. These women were essential parts of the Womens Trade Union League. They marched, lent their homes for meetings, even went to jail. They provided educational opportunities and encouragement. Where are their spiritual descendants today?

Sandberg argues that having women in decision-making spots will make things better for all women. But we have not heard her voice chime in for paid maternity leave. She points out the compelling statistic that the cost of day care for two children exceeds the median rent in every state of the union! Where is the call for national child care? And on a corporate level, while the Silicon Valley tech workers seem to have generous benefits, how about the women who work for the contractors, like security firms who are currently struggling for a union? I'm sure a company offer to include paid maternity leave would be a welcome gesture and the kind of thing we would like to see initiated by women in positions of power.

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[MotherPetrie]

1. Exactly. What good is "leaning in" when it's only to perpetuate male-originated corporatism?