Cult of Power: Sex Discrimination in Corporate America and What Can Be Done About It (Hardcover)

by Martha Burk (Author) "It all started routinely enough-with a simple three-paragraph letter, addressing a little-noticed issue in the eternal battle for gender equity..." (more)
Key Phrases: Augusta National, United States, Morgan Stanley (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In 2002, Burk, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations, led a protest against the Augusta National Golf Club—home of the Masters golf tournament—for its refusal to admit women to the club. In riveting prose, she tells that story and draws out lessons for eliminating sex discrimination in corporations generally. In her initial letter to chairman Hootie Johnson, Burk simply requests that he review the club's policies and open the membership to women; Johnson's reply to Burk vilifies her and calls her references to discrimination offensive. As her struggle with the club intensifies, Burk learns that several powerful corporate presidents are members of the club (she includes a complete list of the club's members) and uncovers countless anecdotes of daily discrimination against women at their companies. She calls for companies to do "gender equity audits" to uncover the real statistics about matters such as the number of layoffs by gender and job category, the number of new hires by gender, including pay averages, and number of new board members by gender. With a terrific story on which to hang her recommendations, Burk achieves a rare hybrid of activism and entertainment. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
In 2002 small headlines announced the fact that the Augusta National Golf Club, host of the Masters Tournament, did not allow women members. Attention to this situation escalated when Burk, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations, wrote a polite "reconsider your policy, please" letter to chairman Hootie Johnson--and received a multipage press release in response. The fact is that women's status in American corporations today (especially timely in light of Carly Fiorina's ouster from HP) signifies that women are still second-class citizens in business. In between Burk's documenting the furor over Augusta, individual profiles of members, such as Sanford Weill, former Citigroup CEO, make an unassailable case for change in her prescriptions for corporations, from "corporate culture must be changed from the CEO down" to "stop giving 'too much for too little'--lauding companies who have a woman or two in top management." Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (March 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743264509
• ISBN-13: 978-0743264501
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #229,244 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!, May 5, 2005

By	Nancy Thomas (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a class representative in the gender discrimination class action that was filed against Merrill Lynch in 1997 and am well aware of that "cult of power." As the only class representative who was still employed at the time of filing, I found out quite readily and very painfully how obstinate the corporate culture on Wall Street can be. This book is beautifully written and articulate. From the start it draws you in and very succinctly explains what is happening. It is one of those books that really is hard to put down because of the substance Dr. Burk provides. Not only does she convey the truth about the workplace for women but she offers well thought out suggestions for change. Having spent more than the past decade trying to impart these thoughts to others without the benefit of someone of her position and the research that she illuminates, I am quite grateful that I can now refer people to Dr. Burk's book. If you want to understand why men respond the way they do in corporate America or what types of changes should be made in the workplace to make it better for everyone, this is a must read. Thank you Dr. Burk!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction to the ideas of feminist theory, June 23, 2005

By	Daina A. Agee (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Martha Burk's book is easy to read and enjoyable. She makes a clear case for the reality of sex discrimination in a way that is not difficult to understand. The arguement of the book is straigh foward enough that even people who have never been intrested, or believed, in women's rights can appreciate this book while gaining insights into the realities of women's lives in corporate America from a woman who has been there and lived it. "Cult of Power" will not leave you with the feeling of having been lectured to from the one and only correct point of view.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear Concepts and Inspiring Call to Action, May 31, 2005

By	James Suggett (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a young professional activist who came to Washington, D.C. straight out of college, I appreciated this book for several reasons. First, it enhanced my understanding of the complexity of sex discrimination in corporate America. Beyond mere concepts, it gave lucid examples of how to convincingly articulate messages and more effectively advocate on these crucial issues. Finally, the book gave me hope and encouragement by surveying the rising tide of public consciousness and progress achieved - and to be advanced if we keep pushing - toward an end to gender discrimination in our national economy. Because our economy is so intricately linked globally, if we campaign strongly at home, we can change the world for the better.