Customer Reviews

Sexism in America: Alive, Well, and Ruining Our Future

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This is a book I might not have picked up on my own, but my wife bought a copy Saturday night and she kept reading me passages from it. Finally I decided to read it myself and I have to admit I was blown away. I thought: great, another angry rant, but Sexism in America is compassionate and empathetic and a very good read. Berg tells the story of the Second Wave Women's Movement (something I didn't really know much about although I lived through it) with wonderful anecdotes, compelling stories, passion and even humor. Once establishing the rights women achieved, she shows how their progress has been thwarted and, in some cases, halted under different administrations. She draws on sociology, psychology, and history and a remarkable number of interviews to make her case. This isn't about Berg's experiences, but about the lives of women, many from vastly different backgrounds, who opened their hearts to her. This is a highly intelligent, thoughtful study with a novel explanation about how and why women have been losing ground.

As a fiftysomething male who's run his own company for many many years, I was in for quite an awakening about the many practices, comments and lapses that I as well as many of my colleagues engage in that are detrimental to women. And I have two daughters whom I adore and have always prided myself on being pro-women!

This book was definitely a wake-up call for me. It's no longer going to be enough to say, "Yeah, I know women are discriminated against." The important thing is understanding the depth, prevalence of it. (I didn't for example know that women are dying at younger ages than men or about the very successful campaign on the right to grant fetuses personhood which would eliminate choice without a Supreme Court decision.) But once we know what is happening and why, then, we can begin as Berg says, "To make a society that will enhance all of our lives." Everyone should read this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting, September 9, 2009
By Deborah Blumenthal (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
If you've sat back complacently thinking that women in America have pretty much broken through most sexist barriers by now, Barbara Berg's Sexism in America Alive, Well, and Ruining Our Future, will open your eyes to how the right-wing, phallic politics of both Presidents Regan and Bush have stealthily worked to erode the hard fought gains for women on every front giving rise to a resurgence of sexism in this country. This lively, very readable, fast-paced overview of feminist history is laced with the often shocking confessions of women across the country who responded to hundreds of interviews by Berg, telling their punch-in-the gut stories of abuse. They range from a soldier in Iraq who was knocked unconscious, brutally raped, given no trauma counseling and then asked to take a polygraph exam and get back to work, to a panicked woman who became pregnant from an abusive boyfriend who sought help at a pregnancy crisis center only to find that instead of help getting an abortion, what they offered was the picture of an aborted fetus and the advice to "put her faith in God." The crisis center, it turned out, was a Christian antiabortion facility, the type of place being funded now by the government in many states. There are so many more stories like these and rich detail about how women's rights are being trampled in every area. The book will make you angry. It will also make you want to cry.

Sexism in America is an excellent and very compelling book. Even if you already know that there's prejudice against women in America, this book with shock you with the depth, insidiousness and pervasiveness of the discrimination. For example: women are dying at younger ages for the first time since the 1920s; our country is only 31st in the world in gender equality; a female is assaulted every few minutes; women pay more for their health insurance than men and were the main victims of the subprime mortgage debacle: women are being fired when they become pregnant in stark violation of the law. And on it goes.
Berg begins with a short history of the women's movement in America then shows how and why the gains made have been slowly, but surely eroded in every aspect of our lives, whether it is healthcare, education, including academia, the workplace or popular culture. Berg's explanation of what has happened to gender equity both as a fact and ideal is both a revelation and very persuasive. Her discussion of the entertainment industry is especially fascinating. She combines years of careful research, great story telling, a sense of humor with an impassioned argument for equality. I couldn't put the book down.

The big news of 2009 was that women had made great strides and that we were a post feminist society. But nothing could be further from the truth as historian, author and activist, Barbara J. Berg makes clear in her thorough and eye-opening new book Sexism in America: Alive, Well and Ruining Our Future. The book traces women's position in this country and the assault on their rights starting in the 1950s through the second wave women's movement of the 1970s (a wonderful reminder of what was accomplished) to the horrific rollback of rights starting under President Reagan and continuing through the administration of George W. Bush.

Every important recent national event - from the terror attacks of 9/11, the war in Iraq, the current economic crisis, to the healthcare debate are examined by Berg with a keen eye towards their impact on women and the results are startling. As she writes, "The inheritance of the women's movement is being short-circuited in every aspect of our lives." Of particular interest is Berg's analysis of popular culture and its impact on girls, young women, boys and young men.

Drawing on the stories of hundreds of women, this book should be mandatory reading for everyone who cares about justice and equality. Berg tells us what went wrong and why and how to get back to a more equitable society.

This book is extraordinary. Fast paced, insightful, passionate yet judicious. It covers so many different issues and does it in a way that is informative, but also analytic, in a way that any reader can and will relate to. I spent a number of years as Chairman of the American Women's Economic Development Corporation (which counsels and trains women entrepreneurs) and thought I had a reasonable sensitivity to a lot of the issues. In reading this book, I realized how much more there is of which to be aware and how important it is to start becoming more conscious of the everyday occurrences in one's experience, which bear on the sexism issues.
Sexism in America: Alive, Well and Ruining Our Future performs a great public service. While stimulating and entertaining, the book achieves its principal purpose, since I came away both enlightened and enraged at the existing gender situation. The job, now, is to make the public more effectively aware of the issues.

The information in this book should reach both males and females. During this holiday season, give this book to your relatives and friends. You will be doing all of them a favor.
Mark Maged

I first posted a review when I was about a third of the way into this book and wanted to recommend it immediately.
If it were possible, I'd now give it twenty stars. This is the best book on the subject in many years. The author addresses everything from pay inequity to media imbalance to the insidous anti-woman attitudes once again permeating every corner of American culture. She has an enviable command of current and historical research, and her overall tone is one of hope in spite of everything. That's an attitude I can live with - because it comes with a rallying cry for women, and people who care about women, everywhere.
Until I happened upon this book, I'd been wondering if it was just me... if I was somehow just getting more sensitive, more cranky... but no, that's not it...not at all. That's what the powers that be would like us all to believe. It's not just me, and it's not just you. Things really have moved backward for us, and we must stop it.
Praise to my local library, who set this book front and center on the display by the front doors. I might not have seen it otherwise since it was just a quick trip... I was so struck by the title I grabbed it. I am so glad I did. I could easily become very depressed by the data she presents and the stories she tells - but I won't let that happen. I will let it be the empowering jolt the author intended it to be.
The "Resources" section is great, too. Be sure to take advantage of the many listings. There are listings for many facets of women's lives and political futures.

To the reviewer who made disparaging remarks about the author being "white"... this book clearly addresses issues facing WOMEN of all colors and heritage. The issues we face as women are gender driven, and in many cases those issues are compounded for women of color. Allowing a racial divide to distract us is just want the powers that be want... Women infighting works in favor of nothing changing. Let's not surrender to the temptation to go down that road, please. We have too much work to do, together, as WOMEN. We can address BOTH issues. It's really not either/or.
Men should read it also. A lot of men think everything is just fine - seriously. We've quit speaking up loudly, and so everything must be fine, right? NOT HARDLY.
Read this book at once!! Everyone!! And have your daughters and sons read it, too!
We are Woman. Hear us ROAR AGAIN.

When I first heard about Barbara Berg's first book, I admit that I was dubious based on the title. Not that I don't agree with the premise; I do believe that sexism is alive and well, and ruining our country. My problem with it was more tone. There's a finger-wagging aspect to it, and I wasn't compelled to pick it up right away.

I'm glad that I finally did, though.

This is a terrific, entertaining, insightful read, and it goes places I didn't expect it to go. Starting with a succinct re-hashing of the nuclear family and television's role in cementing gender roles, it leads to a discussion of the changes brought about in 50 years. I was surprised and pleased by the take on "Sex and the City" and how "Carrie and Co. turn out to be delightfully wisecracking, but not really earth-shattering." And it had never occurred to me that Hilary Swank's stereotype-bucking fighter in "Million Dollar Baby" indeed finds herself "down for the count."

I enjoyed the chapters devoted to 9-11 and the associated gender roles especially.

Berg's analysis was extremely eye-opening for me, and I'm sure it would be for most folks like me, who have been led to believe that sexism still exists but that progress has been swift and furious.

Well-written and imbued with humor and pathos, this is a must read!

Barbara Berg's characterization of sexism as a badge of honor among males resonates with what women see as male disdain for women's traits. Many males are in lock-step when they poke fun at females. This is especially true with female political candidates....male journalists (or so-called journalists) offer lip-curling commentaries about female traits. Remember Hillary's "cackle" and Sarah's "winking?" History (as written by males in the long ago past)reports that witches cackle and harlots wink. To be labeled a witch in the Middle Ages was to be burned at the stake for your sins. The unconscious and subtle labeling of women as witches (or even as harlots) today is in keeping with the customary judgment against women in history. The difference today, however, is that the media types can burn women candidates at the stake of public opinion without ever striking a match.

Congratulations to Barbara J. Berg for reporting the truth in a day and age when truth is scarcely heard or seen.
Julia Hughes Jones,(...)

A few weekend ago I was channel surfing and I came across Book TV on C-Span. I've watched a few times and the shows are pretty interesting so when Barbara J.Berg, Ph.D. came on to discuss her new book about women, Sexism in America: Alive, Well and Ruining Our Future, I stayed tuned. WOW!!! The talk was so impressive. As a married thirtysomething guy, raised with two sisters and pretty with-it parents, I thought I knew a lot about women's status in America. It turns out, I didn't know much at all.

Now, it's true that in my profession which happens to be finance, women often are treated like second class citizens, but I assumed that this was the exception. Not only is workplace discrimination rampant in this country in just about every field, according to Berg, but gender bias infects all aspects of our lives. After the talk I made up my mind to buy the book. I started reading and literally couldn't put it down. Even though it is incredibly well-documented (Berg is an historian and obviously knows about research and citations, most points are backed up with several footnotes) the book reads like a novel. I kid you not. Berg relies on personal stories of women from every background across the nation to illuminate her points, weaving together these compelling first person accounts with a mind-boggling number of facts.(To the reviewer who labeled the book "Propaganda," I can't really believe that you actually read it because even if you don't agree with the tenets of women's liberation and equality, it simply isn't possible to say that the arguments of this book aren't well- substantiated.)

In addition to employment, Dr. Berg examines education, healthcare, reproductive health and rights, parenting, popular culture, government, the media to illustrate the years of backsliding and a growing gender gap in privilege and power in America. She proves beyond doubt that women have been losing ground since the victories of the 1970 and 80s, but especially during the presidency of George W. Bush. In an original nuanced study, she shows how women have become the "other again," by looking at our political scene from Reagan to Obama.

I especially enjoyed her section on popular culture. I didn't know much about electronic gaming or reality TV, but now I can see how the sexism that Dr. Berg calls the sexism of mass destruction has affected our entertainment industry. The book begins with the 1950s and takes the reader right up through Age of Obama and the Great Recession. I urge everyone to buy this book and to tell everyone you know about it. You won't think about society in the same way after you read it, and hopefully it will make you want to do something to make it a better place for us and our children. ( We're expecting our first child, a daughter it turns, out so I have a vested interest in making our world better for her, but truly if it were a boy I'd say the same thing. A better world for girls/women is a better world for boys/ men.)

I received Sexism in America: Alive, Well, And RUNING OUR FUTURE by Barbra J. Berg, Ph.D. before Christmas for review and honestly didn't see how it would change anything about me or the way I see my daughter's rights, her peers, my mother's upbringing or our political past, present or future. We teach equality in our home already. My husband does laundry and dishes, I mow the lawn, and we work together on projects like cleaning out the garage or planning a party. Row vs Wade is alive and well...what did I need to know? Boy was I wrong on all counts! Sexism in America is well written, well researched and pages 325-412 documents everything Barbara Berg writes about in previous chapters regarding women's rights in the 20th century.

Sexism in America reveals both the cultural and structural sexism that prevails despite previous victories, taking readers, like me, through a comprehensive exposé of the battles women still face in order to achieve true equity.

* The incredible disparities in cost of women's health insurance versus men's, the revamped war on reproductive freedom, and why the US is considered 31st in world gender equity
* The rise of infant mortality rates, teen pregnancy, heart disease and diabetes in
women, as well as sexually transmitted infections among adolescent girls
* The rampant workplace discrimination that women, especially mothers face, and the wage gap between men & women that begins immediately after college and grows over time
* The pervasive sexism in popular culture beginning with male characters dominating 85% of speaking parts in G-rated children's movies to increasingly violent and accessible internet pornography

What was also incredible to me were some of the comments made by doctors, politicians and leaders whom we (once) trusted to care about the rights and health of women in America.

*Regarding Birth Control "We will never give over the control of our numbers to the women, themselves. What? Let them control the future of the human race?" (Male physician talking with Margaret Sanger)
*Regarding Miscarriage "There are two types of habitual miscarries: the basically immature woman or the frustrated independent woman." (1977 medical text book)
*Child Care "Child care threatens family stability by encouraging women to work and encouraging a communal approach to childrearing." (President Nixon)
*Equal Rights (Falwell) wanted to "bury Equal Rights Amendment once and for all in a deep, dark grave."

Yes, there is PLENTY more to make your blood boil that happened in the PAST but it's the future we need to worry about. Chapters on Clinton, Bush and comments on Obama are all included as well as what girls are facing now....body image, education, and career opportunities all still not equal to boys/men. Did you know of the hidden provision in Bush's No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 REQUIRES all public schools to provide the military with personal data on their students including birthdates, social security numbers, e-mail addresses, phone numbers and grade point averages? Equipped with this information, recruiters can bypass parents and contact the students directly.

If I didn't say it before, Sexism in America: Alive, Well, And RUNING OUR FUTURE by Barbra J. Berg, Ph.D. needs to be put on your MUST READ list. Once you do I will be very interested to hear your comments!