BOOK REVIEW

Taking on the Big Boys: or why feminism is good for families, business, and the nation by Ellen Bravo

In ten words or less: Achieving workplace equality is not an easy battle.

Review: Author Bravo started as an organizer for the union “9 to 5” in 1982. What is feminism, anyway, you may ask. “Feminism is a system of beliefs, laws, and practices that fully values women and work associated with women in order to help all people reach their potential.” In this book you will learn how the “big boys” (the mostly white, male enforcers of the status quo) operate, and how to take them on. There are chapters on pay equity, work-family issues, sexual harassment, the right to organize, welfare reform, and part-time and temporary jobs.

Bravo makes her points with humor and real-life examples which are so misguided they would be funny, if not for their reality. One such point: “The Bush administration doles out huge amounts of money for programs like abstinence education and marriage promotion. ‘Author Barbara Ehrenreich pointed out the fundamental flaw in that strategy: Since most women marry within their social class, poor women would have to be bigamists and marry 2.3 poor men at once in order to break out of poverty.’”

In her final chapter, the author offers some suggestions on how to achieve equality in the workplace. Appreciate workers, help prepare the next generation, and practice positive talk.

Why bother? It’s a book on an important subject, with far reaching consequences. It’s also an eye-opening, infuriating, funny, and hopeful message.