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lauramort1215's review against another edition
3.0
This was frustrating. I wanted to like it because the author brings up a lot of important issues and interesting data but it wasn't presented in a great way. For one thing, I think this would have been a much better book had it focused on 1-2 key issues in great depth. As is, it jumps between many topics and the analysis is surface-level. I appreciate how much research work must have gone into it but there's a heavy reliance on listing stats and quotes more than analysis or synthesis of those things. Statistics on their own do not make for conclusive proof-- ironic given that the whole point of this book is to show how a lot of allegedly impartial science (which also uses stats) is still discriminatory.
When there is analysis, there are, ironically, many sweeping generalizations about women, particularly mothers and poor women, without appropriate citation. There's a ton of correlational data presented without any discussion of causality, such as telling us that countries with more women in government are more peaceful. I was also bothered by a lack of discussion into opposing viewpoints or counterarguments-- one that stuck out was why GDP doesn't measure unpaid work. Sure, you could argue that it should, but it's also justifiable to say that that wouldn't be measuring the same thing, and having different kind of data is valuable without it being intrinsically discriminatory.
And while I believe most of the claims in these discussions probably ARE accurate, the way they're presented really detracts from that because it's just not a strong argument. There are several good and compelling book outlines scattered in here but unfortunately the finished product is lacking.
When there is analysis, there are, ironically, many sweeping generalizations about women, particularly mothers and poor women, without appropriate citation. There's a ton of correlational data presented without any discussion of causality, such as telling us that countries with more women in government are more peaceful. I was also bothered by a lack of discussion into opposing viewpoints or counterarguments-- one that stuck out was why GDP doesn't measure unpaid work. Sure, you could argue that it should, but it's also justifiable to say that that wouldn't be measuring the same thing, and having different kind of data is valuable without it being intrinsically discriminatory.
And while I believe most of the claims in these discussions probably ARE accurate, the way they're presented really detracts from that because it's just not a strong argument. There are several good and compelling book outlines scattered in here but unfortunately the finished product is lacking.
elizayybeth's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. It was nice to read all of these things that you KNOW exist and KNOW impact the daily life of women but all presented together in one place. While reading this I had to check my own complacencies with a lot of these issues as at the beginning of this book I feared the author was going to explain a series of menial and vapid gender gap data critiques as the book begins with snow clearing schedules and long lines to the bathroom. However I was right to shut up and keep listening because the author presents all this data and SHOWS you how all these, what seems like unimportant, things affect women much more than what we think they do AND to how these issues have astronomical effects worldwide. I really enjoyed (the writing, i was more angered by) the chapters on the female body and healthcare and medicine etc. I spent my senior capstone in college focusing on gender differences on alcohol addiction in men and women and trying to find if there was any susceptibility risks for women during different times of their cycle and it’s true! Most data on these things don’t even exist! Most studies on addiction dont even LOOK at the possibility of gender differences let alone have even ever conducted them! Women’s health and safety are at a constant risk everywhere and unfortunately the data shows how ingrained all these systematic issues are in all aspects of life.
I think it is very easy at this point of time to argue how much women have progressed in the last 50 years and while I think all of these strides are important, I think it is quite silly to pretend like all of these issues do not affect the modern day woman and I find it shameful that there are people out there that can look at all this data and still not believe women worldwide are disproportionally effected by biases that hinder them politically, economically, socially, and even physically. I think everyone should read this book ESPECIALLY men as I believe enough time has passed where we let them remain ignorant of the harm they are actively causing in the world by simply not thinking or not listening.
My only critique and the only reason for not giving this book 5 stars was the dick riding for hilary clinton the author chose to take in the later chapters. Given this was published in 2019 and we are here in the depressing landscape of 2025 with more hindsight on women in politics/pandemics/etc. I just felt some disconnect in choosing to use hilary clinton as the chosen representative for identity politics given the previous chapters on growing countries and how women are disproportionately affected by war/natural disasters as this is also a woman who has actively been a part of putting women and children civilians in literal harms way. The points being made about women’s representation in politics was still very accurate and very important and I fully agree with the argument that to see women’s voices more we need to place them in positions where they can amplify voices and also be taken seriously. I just wish the author used a different example other than Hilary Clinton for this as i think being a women while also harming others, especially other women globally is not a great look in my opinion. Also I am aware we are seeing identity politics fail us in this day and age but it was the craze back in 2016-2019 so I understand the hopeful intention behind the author adding this but unfortunately US politics and government is a nasty and corrupt game so life is not that simple.
There is definitely a lot of information in this book and I believe the author did an excellent job at presenting and arguing for it. I fully believe this book could have been triple the length and still wouldn’t not fully encapsulate all the gender biases and data gaps concerning women in the world. I highly recommend this book to everyone and I highly recommend not being disheartened (i know this is hard as this book is DEPRESSING) but instead, be angry. Nothing will come of it if we do not fight for a change and unfortunately no one is going to do this for us. So we, as feminists, as WOMEN must be the one’s to start doing it for ourselves and for the future of the women who come after us.
I think it is very easy at this point of time to argue how much women have progressed in the last 50 years and while I think all of these strides are important, I think it is quite silly to pretend like all of these issues do not affect the modern day woman and I find it shameful that there are people out there that can look at all this data and still not believe women worldwide are disproportionally effected by biases that hinder them politically, economically, socially, and even physically. I think everyone should read this book ESPECIALLY men as I believe enough time has passed where we let them remain ignorant of the harm they are actively causing in the world by simply not thinking or not listening.
My only critique and the only reason for not giving this book 5 stars was the dick riding for hilary clinton the author chose to take in the later chapters. Given this was published in 2019 and we are here in the depressing landscape of 2025 with more hindsight on women in politics/pandemics/etc. I just felt some disconnect in choosing to use hilary clinton as the chosen representative for identity politics given the previous chapters on growing countries and how women are disproportionately affected by war/natural disasters as this is also a woman who has actively been a part of putting women and children civilians in literal harms way. The points being made about women’s representation in politics was still very accurate and very important and I fully agree with the argument that to see women’s voices more we need to place them in positions where they can amplify voices and also be taken seriously. I just wish the author used a different example other than Hilary Clinton for this as i think being a women while also harming others, especially other women globally is not a great look in my opinion. Also I am aware we are seeing identity politics fail us in this day and age but it was the craze back in 2016-2019 so I understand the hopeful intention behind the author adding this but unfortunately US politics and government is a nasty and corrupt game so life is not that simple.
There is definitely a lot of information in this book and I believe the author did an excellent job at presenting and arguing for it. I fully believe this book could have been triple the length and still wouldn’t not fully encapsulate all the gender biases and data gaps concerning women in the world. I highly recommend this book to everyone and I highly recommend not being disheartened (i know this is hard as this book is DEPRESSING) but instead, be angry. Nothing will come of it if we do not fight for a change and unfortunately no one is going to do this for us. So we, as feminists, as WOMEN must be the one’s to start doing it for ourselves and for the future of the women who come after us.
anasalome's review against another edition
5.0
Insightful book that has inspired me even more to fight gender inequality.
rexgertspud's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
itslaurenhornsby's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
colleensab's review against another edition
4.0
Everyone needs to read this book. I had to take breaks and come back to it because the truth of the inequality is depressing at times, but it’s incredibly important to grasp.