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maudyy's review against another edition
5.0
opening this review, i had to state that i hate economics, a topic i’d love to avoid to talk about cause it’s just so frustrating, but this book is a great read (still frustrating, but in a good way). well there are MANY important things to learn and unlearn from this book. from my pov, these are the most important points that Marçal trying to deliver:
1. women are trapped in unpaid labor & valued very low on what they do!!!Marçal emphasizes how traditional economic theories often ignore or undervalue the unpaid labor that women contribute to society, particularly within households. this work includes childcare, housekeeping, and other essential tasks that, while not monetarily compensated, play a SIGNIFICANT role in the functioning of the economy. it’s been overlooked since Forever. i instantly remember what Marx says abt “Warenfetischismus” (commodity fetishism): that makes us value things that have no objective value and encourages us to see our relationships with others primarily in economic terms &&& OF COURSE as a consequence of this, mostwomen that take role in the domestic work, and they are ALWAYS criminally underappreciated. >:-(
2. gender disparities!!! the book highlights the disparities in economic opportunities and outcomes between men and women. the writer explores how societal norms, expectations, and gender bias have historically limited women's participation in the workforce and their access to economic opportunities. women in STEM (esp those who are in field and technical work are VERY MUCH affected by this), even on this era when feminism is everywhere, we can’t never deny that many people still hold to traditional gender norms and expectations to certain roles in reality.
3. (maybe) to reevaluating economic theory??? Marçal challenges the conventional economic theories, including those-put-forth by Adam Smith, and encourages us to reconsider and reevaluate these theories in light of the overlooked contributions and experiences of women. in some passages, she argues for a more inclusive and holistic approach to economics that accounts for the true value of women's work, and these ideas delivered nicely!
1. women are trapped in unpaid labor & valued very low on what they do!!!Marçal emphasizes how traditional economic theories often ignore or undervalue the unpaid labor that women contribute to society, particularly within households. this work includes childcare, housekeeping, and other essential tasks that, while not monetarily compensated, play a SIGNIFICANT role in the functioning of the economy. it’s been overlooked since Forever. i instantly remember what Marx says abt “Warenfetischismus” (commodity fetishism): that makes us value things that have no objective value and encourages us to see our relationships with others primarily in economic terms &&& OF COURSE as a consequence of this, mostwomen that take role in the domestic work, and they are ALWAYS criminally underappreciated. >:-(
2. gender disparities!!! the book highlights the disparities in economic opportunities and outcomes between men and women. the writer explores how societal norms, expectations, and gender bias have historically limited women's participation in the workforce and their access to economic opportunities. women in STEM (esp those who are in field and technical work are VERY MUCH affected by this), even on this era when feminism is everywhere, we can’t never deny that many people still hold to traditional gender norms and expectations to certain roles in reality.
3. (maybe) to reevaluating economic theory??? Marçal challenges the conventional economic theories, including those-put-forth by Adam Smith, and encourages us to reconsider and reevaluate these theories in light of the overlooked contributions and experiences of women. in some passages, she argues for a more inclusive and holistic approach to economics that accounts for the true value of women's work, and these ideas delivered nicely!
soy_sputnik's review against another edition
4.0
Katrine Marçal realiza un recuento histórico desde el ya conocido "hombre económico" de Adam Smith hasta las diversas teorías económicas actuales que lo sustentan y que buscan que el hombre económico sea quien nos relacione como individuos. Todo esto mientras le brinda una mirada feminista, dándole voz al trabajo que durante miles de años ha realizado la mujer y que se le ha invizibilizado, de tal manera que hasta el día de hoy no se ha incluido en la economía actual.
Con una mirada crítica brinda los argumentos para demostrar que no es el hombre económico la mejor forma de analizar al supuesto individuo y se necesitan otras maneras que entiendan a la persona y su manera de organizarse como sociedad.
Sencillo, claro y para principiantes como yo (feministas e interesados en la economía).
Con una mirada crítica brinda los argumentos para demostrar que no es el hombre económico la mejor forma de analizar al supuesto individuo y se necesitan otras maneras que entiendan a la persona y su manera de organizarse como sociedad.
Sencillo, claro y para principiantes como yo (feministas e interesados en la economía).
mergito's review
4.0
More a 3.5, but I figure I'm not quite the intended audience and some of it was a simplified version of things I already know. It's somewhat repetitive, and a bit simplistic, but still a good read, more a polemic than in depth analysis, but sometimes polemic is just what's needed!
davidsteinsaltz's review
3.0
Fundamentally important thesis, carried through with verve and passion, but too aphoristic and unstructured to really convince and create new comprehension. A bit like a feminist economic stand-up comedy routine, or one-woman show, which wasn't really what I wanted.
bflynnp's review
3.0
A really good, condensed overview of things most of us know intuitively, but it’s nice to see it all summarized and provided in context. A little repetitive and a little woo-woo in places. A nice jumping off point for further reading.
themorsecode's review
3.0
Great in the parts when it addresses the book's advertised point regarding a feminist reading of economic theory, but this covers only around a third of the book with more general economic criticism filling the rest. Interesting enough, if a little 101, but not what I signed up for.
pppaigeee's review
3.0
This book is accessible, informative, and a challenge to the traditional economics I was more used to hearing about (though I am no means an expert in economics). Marçal does a great job of explaining theories and questioning gendered constructs and neoliberal capitalism. However, for the most part she treats "men" and "women" as homogeneous(ish) groups, which makes some of her critique fall flat. A more intersectional approach would have made this book more impactful and more realistic. Still, it's very well done for what it is and it's worth the read.