What Women Want : An Agenda for the Women's Movement

American women fare worse than men on virtually every major dimension of social status, financial well-being, and physical safety. Sexual violence remains common, and reproductive rights are by no means secure. Women assume disproportionate burdens in the home and pay a heavy price in the workplace. Yet these issues are not political priorities. Nor is there a consensus that there still is a serious problem. In What Women Want , Deborah L. Rhode, one of the nation's leading scholars on women and law, brings to the discussion a broad array of interdisciplinary research as well as interviews with heads of leading women's organizations. Is the women's movement stalled? What are the major obstacles it confronts? What are its key priorities and what strategies might advance them? In addressing those questions, the book explores virtually all of the major policy issues confronting women. Topics include employment and appearance discrimination, the gender gap in pay and leadership opportunities, work/family policies, childcare, divorce, same-sex marriage, sexual harassment, domestic violence, rape, trafficking, abortion, poverty, and political representation, all with a particular focus on the capacities and limits of law as a strategy for social change. Why, despite four decades of equal employment legislation, is women's workplace status so far from equal? Why, despite a quarter century's effort at reforming rape law, is America's rate of reported rape the second highest in the developed world? Part of the problem lies in the absence of political mobilization around such issues and the underrepresentation of women in public office. In an age where many women are reluctant to identify as feminists, a broad-ranging, expert look at where American women are today is more necessary than ever. This path-breaking book explores how women can and should act on what they want. American women fare worse than men on virtually every major dimension of social status, financial well-being, and physical safety. Sexual violence remains common, and reproductive rights are by no means secure. Women assume disproportionate burdens in the home and pay a heavy price in the workplace. Yet these issues are not political priorities, and worse, there is a lack of consensus that there still is a serious problem, or at least one that women have any reason or capacity to address. This "no problem" problem helps explain why women fail to mobilize around issues that materially affect the quality of their lives. Why is this, why does it matter, and how can we best respond? What Women Want focuses on the policy agenda for women. Deborah L. Rhode, one of the nation's leading scholars on women and law, brings to the discussion a broad array of interdisciplinary research as well as interviews with heads of leading women's organizations. Is the women's movement stalled? What are the major obstacles it confronts? What are its key priorities and what strategies might advance them? In addressing those questions, the book explores virtually all of the major policy issues confronting women. Topics include employment and appearance discrimination, the gender gap in pay and leadership opportunities, work/family policies, childcare, divorce, same-sex marriage, sexual harassment, domestic violence, rape, trafficking, abortion, poverty, and political representation. Discussion focuses on the capacities and limits of law as a strategy for social change. Why, despite four decades of enforcement of equal employment legislation, is women's workplace status so far from equal? Why, despite a quarter century's effort at reforming rape law, is America's rate of reported rape the second highest in the developed world? Part of the problem lies in the absence of political mobilization around such issues and the underrepresentation of women in public office. In an age where many women are reluctant to identify as feminists, the "war on women" is a potent political weapon, and Lean In tops the bestseller list, a broad-ranging, expert look at where American women are today is more necessary than ever. This path-breaking book explores how women can and should act on what they want. What Women Want is a trenchant examination of the struggle for women's equality, and a prescription for what to focus on next in order to ensure maximum success. Feminism today is a movement that lacks leadership, unity, and definition, and it has gotten stuck in a boom and bust cycle when it comes to public opinion and action. Despite significant progress over the last fifty years, equality is still a distant goal in the political, social, and economic spheres. Only by identifying the barriers (both internal and external) that remain, Deborah Rhode argues, can we begin to identify solutions. A rigorously researched and well-written answer to the glut of gender-related books that have come onto the market recently, What Women Want comprehensively analyzes the challenges the feminist movement faces today. Combining sharp academic analysis and interviews with notable figures such as Sheryl Sandberg, Rhode focuses on five main topics: employment issues such as pay discrimination, work-life balance and the government's pitiful response, the assault on women's reproductive rights and the limits it places on their economic mobility, sexual harassment and violence, and the detrimental effect that the unfashionable label'feminist'can have, especially in attracting young women to the movement. Despite these formidable obstacles, the goals and principles of feminism are widely accepted by the American mainstream, and Rhode, herself a pathbreaker in the fields of law and education, offers effective strategies for redefining and advancing the feminist agenda, thereby creating a movement that truly recognizes, and is responsive to, what all women want. Rhode, The Director Of The Stanford Center On The Legal Profession, Examines The Progress Women In The United States Have Made Toward Gender Equality And Of The Problems That Still Must Be Addressed. American Women Fare Worse Than Men On Virtually Every Major Dimension Of Social Status, Financial Well-being, And Physical Safety. Sexual Violence Remains Common, And Reproductive Rights Are By No Means Secure. Women Assume Disproportionate Burdens In The Home And Pay A Heavy Price In The Workplace. Despite A Quarter Century's Effort At Reforming Rape Law, America's Rate Of Reported Rape Is The Second Highest In The Developed World. Yet These Issues Are Not Political Priorities. Nor Is There A Consensus That There Still Is A Serious Problem. Here, Deborah L. Rhode, One Of The Nation's Leading Scholars On Women And Law, Brings To The Discussion A Broad Array Of Interdisciplinary Research As Well As Interviews With Heads Of Leading Women's Organizations. Is The Women's Movement Stalled? What Are Its Major Obstacles? What Are Its Key Priorities And What Strategies Might Advance Them? In An Age Where Many Women Are Reluctant To Identify As Feminists, A Broad-ranging, Expert Look At Where American Women Are Today Is More Necessary Than Ever. This Path-breaking Book Explores How Women Can And Should Act On What They Want.--from Publisher Description. The Women's Movement -- Employment -- Work And Family -- Sex And Marriage -- Reproductive Justice And Economic Security -- Sexual Abuse -- Appearance -- The Politics Of Progress. Deborah L. Rhode. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 161-225) And Index. American women fare worse than men on virtually every major dimension of social status, financial well-being, and physical safety. Sexual violence remains common, and reproductive rights are by no means secure. Women assume disproportionate burdens in the home and pay a heavy price in the workplace. Despite a quarter century's effort at reforming rape law, America's rate of reported rape is the second highest in the developed world. Yet these issues are not political priorities. Nor is there a consensus that there still is a serious problem. Here, Deborah L. Rhode, one of the nation's leading scholars on women and law, brings to the discussion a broad array of interdisciplinary research as well as interviews with heads of leading women's organizations. Is the women's movement stalled? What are its major obstacles? What are its key priorities and what strategies might advance them? In an age where many women are reluctant to identify as feminists, a broad-ranging, expert look at where American women are today is more necessary than ever. This path-breaking book explores how women can and should act on what they want.--Publisher information