A lesser life: The myth of women's liberation in America [Paperback]

Sylvia Ann Hewlett (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

British economist Hewlett argues that American feminists have empha sized equal rights and sexual freedom at the expense of social benefits, not ing that American women today enjoy less economic security than their mothers and European sisters. "Chal lenging, amply researched and an gry," PW noted.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Hewlett, who has a doctorate in economics, has written an unsupported attack on the women's movement. Her initial observation is validwomen in America lack adequate assistance from government and industry to meet responsibilities both at home and at work. But she goes on, illogically, to blame the women's movement, misrepresenting feminist positions on daycare and parental leave. She also distorts the experience of the 1950s, ignoring the rising number of women workers, erroneously implying a decline. This incomplete and biased treatment reveals that Hewlett misunderstands both the women's movement and the conservatism of American society. (She is British.) Not recommended, despite publisher's plans for extensive advertising. Cynthia Harrison, American Historical Assn., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 475 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books; Warner Books ed edition (1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446385115
• ISBN-13: 978-0446385114
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,037,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sylvia Ann Hewlett is an economist and the founding President of the Center for Work-Life Policy, a non-profit think tank where she chairs the "Hidden Brain Drain," a task force of 67 global companies committed to global talent innovation. She also directs the Gender and Policy Program at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. Dr. Hewlett is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the World Economic Forum Council on Women's Empowerment. She is the author of nine Harvard Business Review articles and 11 critically acclaimed nonfiction books including "Off-Ramps and On-Ramps" and "Winning the War for Talent in Emerging Markets" (Harvard Business Press). Her writings have appeared in the New York Times, the Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, and the International Herald Tribune, and she is a featured blogger on Harvard Business Online and Forbes. In 2011 she received the Isabel Benham Award from the Women's Bond Club and Woman of the Year Award from the Financial Women's Association. She is a frequent guest on television, appearing on Oprah, Newshour with Jim Lehrer, Charlie Rose, the Today Show and CNN headline News. Hewlett has taught at Cambridge, Columbia and Princeton universities. A Kennedy Scholar and graduate of Cambridge University, she earned her PhD in economics at London University.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Lesser Life is Thought Provoking but the economic policy will not work, January 9, 2009

By 

Philip Schoenberg (Flushing, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Lesser Life: The Myth of Women's Liberation in America (Hardcover)

I read this book over twenty years ago but I still remember its arguments that Western European governments, whether "socialistic" or "conservative", made social investments in the raising of the children. It dawned upon me five years ago that the economic arguments for this policy were fallacious. The proof is in the pudding. The population of Western Europe is falling because people cannot afford housing. In America, the population is even expanding with or without immigration, because people can afford to buy homes.