Sex and Power [Hardcover]

Susan Estrich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2000

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, women in America are richer, more educated, and more powerful than they've ever been. So why is it, Susan Estrich asks, that they account for a mere 3 percent of the nation's top executives? Why are only two women running Fortune 500 companies? A quick survey of the fields of politics, academia, law, medicine, and entertainment reveals similar troubling inequities. Twenty-five years ago, the women who were "firsts" were supposed to have blazed a trail. Today, fewer and fewer women are choosing to take that path. Why have so many women opted out of the race for power? And why is it that women fail to call into action the power they do.

It is Estrich's belief, as expressed in this searing, incisive book, that until women reach the seats of power-where the rules are made-the deck will continue to be stacked against them. And the consequences will be paid by future generations of daughters-and sons. Much of Estrich's critical focus is trained on the question of ambition: Are women today ambitious enough, both individually and collectively? When a woman chooses the mommy track, is it a victory for freedom of choice or a setback that underscores the limits of a woman's "either/or" options? Are younger women too complacent, feeling that the battles for sexual equality were won long ago? On the contrary, Estrich argues. The battles were only half won; there is a revolution to finish. Certain to provoke national debate in this election year, this is the book waiting to be written by Estrich-and the book every woman should read before heading to the voting booth.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

How powerful are American women? To answer that question, Susan Estrich offers two facts: 99.94 percent of the CEOs and 97.3 percent of the top earners in America are men. Concerned about these numbers and the recent rise in women dropping out of the fast lane, or choosing not to enter at all, one of America's most powerful women has written a compelling argument for a restructuring of the workplace and a rallying cry to women to stand together for change. This is not a condemnation of male discrimination, however. Estrich believes that both men and women make unconsciously biased decisions based on socialization. (Most women, after all, are just as wary of ambitious women as men; hence the Hillary phenomenon.) No, Estrich's goal is to inspire. She reminds her readers repeatedly that American women actually have more access to power than any other group of women in the world (after all, they make 83 percent of consumer purchases and comprise 51 percent of the electorate)--but they need to choose to use it. She cites examples of remarkable things that have happened when only two or three women in positions of power have stood together. Imagine what America might look like if half the nation's leaders were women. Would the schools be better? Would video games be less violent? Would more doors be open to women returning to the workforce?

It is this latter group that Estrich is most concerned about. She uses her insider's perspective as a feminist lawyer, along with her access to presidents, ambassadors, editors, and other powerful people, to give both an objective and a personal history of women's struggles for equal rights. This openly frank discussion ranges from Supreme Court battles and feminists' own conflicting views to the thorny issue of sexual harassment (including the author's own role in the Paula Jones and Anita Hill cases). Estrich concludes that women (and men) don't just need equality, they need change. Mothers cannot compete in the workplace as currently designed, and despite so-called gender rules, the working world is still stacked against women. In a daring move, Estrich declares that "the debate has to move beyond questions of conscious discrimination, of who did what to whom, to the more important challenge of how we include everyone at the table." In other words, antidiscrimination laws should not simply end at intentional discrimination, but should actually encourage inclusion. That indeed will require finishing the feminist revolution, which is Estrich's greatest hope. --Lesley Reed

From Publishers Weekly

The lack of women in top political and business spots is emblematic of the unfinished feminist revolution, declares Estrich, presidential campaign manager for Michael Dukakis, a noted law professor (University of Southern California) and newspaper columnist, and author of Real Rape. She highlights how much has changed for women who have entered institutions previously closed to them, yet how little has changed in the structures of those institutions. Outlining the legal cases that have promoted women's equality, Estrich observes, "Enforcing equality in an unequal world doesn't produce equal results." Successful women in formerly all-male fields are still extraordinary people, she argues, which means that ordinary women don't succeed where ordinary men do. Facts and stereotypes about motherhood hold back all women, she contends, exhorting women in positions of power to use that power to support other women: "if gender enters into [women's] evaluation, as we know it does, that doesn't change by ignoring it, but by recognizing the reality and acting collectively to respond to it." The corporations that are most women-friendly have become that way through a conscious decision-making process, Estrich points out. Publicity about the woefully low number of women on corporate boards of directors has also led to some increase in those numbers. Estrich's argument will appeal most to those who believe that the kind of social change she proposes will come from the top down. That her message isn't new emphasizes the importance, and perhaps the truth, of what she has to say. Agent, Amanda Urban, ICM. Author tour. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover (October 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573221244
• ISBN-13: 978-1573221245
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,077,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Updated View of the Feminist Vision of the 1960s, January 1, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sex and Power (Hardcover)

Professor Estrich has written a very fine book here that everyone will benefit from reading. She starts with the original feminist concept of eliminating legal barriers to women's progress in order open up the better jobs in the workplace, and describes what the legal scene is now. Then, she describes that the economic and political status of women has been little changed a result. She makes some excellent recommendations for what is needed now.

When I went school in the 1960s, there were relatively few women in my classes. In college, the percentage was about 30 percent. In law school, it was about 10 percent. In business school, it was about 3 percent. One could easily see why there were not as many women in top positions in society then, if appropriate education was so limited.

Since then, I have attended many reunions where women have spoken about career progress. About 20 years ago, I noticed something troubling. Successful women described themselves as never mentoring other women in the workplace and never seeking out women suppliers. In fact, most of these women indicated that it had never occurred to them to play these roles. How will the lessons of getting ahead ever be passed down to the newly-educated women?

Then ten years ago, women at reunions started talking about dropping off of the fast career track for more time with their children.

Ms. Estrich has done everyone a favor by taking these observations and addressing what more is needed to open up leadership roles. I was particularly impressed with her examples of how two or three women working together can make a big difference. In my over 30 years in the business world, I cannot remember a single instance of seeing women do this. On the other hand, I have often seen men successfully take on women's advocacy in the workplace beginning in the 1970s. I have also seen various male minorities effectively employ such advocacy.

Her observations suggest that the fundamental rules of the workplace need to change to reflect women's role in child-bearing and child-rearing. Few would disagree.

On the other, I think she misses some places where the progress is occurring and could be accelerated. In family businesses, there is always going to be the potential for a lot more flexibility. I see wife-and-husband and father-and-daughter enterprises easily accommodating this adjustment.

Professor Estrich also misses the more rapid progress of women in financial jobs than in other business roles. While controller, treasurer and CFO jobs usually don't lead immediately to becoming a CEO, most CFOs can get an operating job if they want one. And about one in 15 CFOs do become CEOs later in their careers. I suspect that this is going to be an important source of women CEOs in the future.

Product management and sales are two other areas that should have a high yield of future career progress for women. Companies where women are the primary customers should be particularly good places for women executives to advance.

Many of Professor Estrich's examples are in law, and that field is probably going to continue to be a problem. Working in a law firm as an associate has gotten to be tougher and tougher as a way to get ahead. Of my law school class, I doubt if even half are still practicing law. The men are just as disgusted as the women in most cases.

Medicine is also under severe stress due to cost containment pressures, and this is going to be a tough place to work and rise to the top. On the other hand, part-time physician roles have evolved that present a balanced life opportunity that will be attractive to many.

I agree that it will be a healther society that has many more women leaders in the political, business, and educational realms. On the other hand, at a time when it is more challenging and less psychologically rewarding to be a leader in these areas than ever before, I certainly can sympathize with women who don't want to grab for that particular brass ring. For themselves, they are probably making very good choices.

The real issue is how to help women who do want it all . . . or more than is available to them. I think that everyone needs to reach out for those women, and find reasonable adjustments to smooth and speed their progress to match their potential to contribute.

I also hope that these talented women who want to make more limited career commitments will decide to take on leadership roles in volunteer organizations. Their skills, insights, and energy are needed in innumerable ways there, and they will be welcomed to boards and other key roles with enthusiasm.

I suggest that you discuss the concepts in this book with the women you know well, to better understand how they see the issues from their perspective. Then ask how you can help them be a more effective leader. And follow through on their requests.

Achieve your full potential as a person by helping others succeed, as well!

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teach a girl to go for her dreams, November 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sex and Power (Hardcover)

This is a riveting book. I read it in two sittings. I am living some of what she describes and it was chilling to read that part. I have become complacent about the greater good. But I am teaching my daughter to love math, embrace technology and to be whatever she wants to be. Get this book now. Tell others about it too.

13 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and frightening..., October 24, 2000

By 

E. M. Carey "LGW" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex and Power (Hardcover)

In Sex & Power, Susan Estrich explores the status of women in the workforce today, 'after' the feminist revolution, 'after' the playing field has been changed by all the hard-fought, hard-won gains women have achieved. And what she finds is that not much is different from what it was before. Yes, there are now a total of three women heading Fortune 500 companies; that's sure a gigantic leap from 20 years ago, when there were two. Estrich is hardly breaking new ground in revealing how women are still struggling for equal pay, promotions and fairness, among many, many other things, but her questions about and insights into these circumstances are fascinating, perceptive, sharp and brutally honest.

There are, according to Estrich, many reasons for the current state of affairs - complicated, multi-layered, systemic, social, surprising, frustrating, infuriating, understandable... Estrich's full grasp of the extent of the problems and her contact with women from all levels and walks of life enables her to view the probable causes from a variety of perspectives and to present a compelling argument in favor of her theories. I think that providing too much information about them would undermine the efficacy and interest of the book - no spoilers here - but she does provide support, both from her personal experiences and those of others, that explains many of the issues she addresses.

I highly recommend this book for anyone at all concerned with the status of women at the end of the 20th century, anyone who wants to see if 'we've come a long way, baby.' And it's refreshing that Estrich spares no one - including women - as she attempts to find the causes at the root of the apparent stagnation in women's progress. There is a certain amount of repetition for such a short book, and at times the chapters seem to blend into each other, but this does not, in any way, detract from the power of this important book. However frightening it is to learn about these things, it is crucial that women - and men - shed any sense of complacency if we are ever to achieve true equality. This book certainly doesn't hold all the answers or questions or even get much below the tip of the iceberg. But it is engrossing and, although it's enraging at the same time, Sex & Power is not a book to be missed.