Taking On the Big Boys: Or Why Feminism Is Good for Families, Business, and the Nation

by Ellen Bravo

A manifesto for the workplace feminist that moved Oscar winner Jane Fonda to exclaim “Please, please, please. All working women must read this book!” Enough about “breaking the glass ceiling.” Here are blueprints for a redesign of the entire building, ground up, to benefit women and men—as well as the bottom line. In Taking on the Big Boys , longtime labor activist Ellen Bravo explores workplace environments in both business and government. She recounts women’s testimonies from offices, assembly lines, hospitals, and schools, unmasking the patronizing, trivializing, and minimizing tactics employed by “the big boys” and their surrogates, such as portraying feminism as women against men, and dismissing demands for pay equity, family leave, and flex time as outrageous. Also included are practical tips on everything from dealing with a sexual harasser to getting family members to share chores—and build equal relationships. In this “smart, kind, funny, and very effective” Gold Medal Winner of ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award for Women’s Issues, Bravo argues for feminism as a system of beliefs, laws, and practices that value women and work associated with women, while detailing activist strategies to achieve a society where everybody—women and men—reach their potential (Gloria Steinem).

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction

294 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Hashim Murtuza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shit was pretty fire

[Laura Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great primer for all feminists, not just white middle-class ones. Actually provides clear examples and solutions to many problems and makes a compelling argument. I really enjoyed it.

[Genna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book after attending a talk Bravo was giving to promote the book. She's a very gifted speaker -- funny, smart, compelling, genuinely likable. She speaks quickly, like she's afraid her thoughts will get too far ahead of her tongue. I adored her.

I bought the book hoping to get more of the same insight and wit, and I was a little bit disappointed. It was a bit like seeing a preview for a movie only to learn 9 bucks later that you'd already seen the only 5 minutes of good material. The format of each chapter, by the end, felt formulaic, and some of her suggestions seemed trite, complete with pneumonic devices like D.R.E.A.M. (Dare to imagine a world as it should be, Reach out, Educate yourself, Act, Multiply)

But still, I liked it. She provides great anecdotes (although it strikes me as a strange tactic for someone warning against abracadabra arithmetic – thinking that one or a few equals plenty), very compelling facts and figures, and very effectively introduces a feminism centered around economic justice, starting first with those at the bottom of the socio-economic latter.

I did learn quite a bit, felt validated in many things I already believed I knew, and enjoyed myself. Just as she was in person, the author is always articulate and accessible. And, as a slow reader who's never finished a work of non-fiction that wasn't assigned in a classroom, I'll tell you I finished the thing in just a couple of weeks.

[Laura Sundstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

As many of us are all too aware, women are no where near equality in the workplace. Women are still paid statistically less than men, sexual harassment is still prevalent, there is a lack of child and family care options, and there are still stereotypically “women’s jobs.”

Women in the workplace is an issue that Ellen Bravo is all too familiar with. She founded the Milwaukee chapter of 9to5, National Association for Working Women in 1982. She also served as the national director of 9to5 until 2004. She is currently a Women’s Studies professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

One of the things that I really liked about this book was that it wasn’t just exposing the truth about women’s oppression in the workplace, but it also showed ways to go about changing it. It provides activist tools as well as knowledge about the situation.

Women’s equality in the workplace is something that was fought for by feminists in the 70s. Many people have claimed that equality has been achieved. But all you have to do is look around to see that women are still less than men in the workplace. Bravo does a great job of exposing the lie of equality and ways to actually achieve this equality that has been fought for for a long time.

For further review:
http://adventuresofayoungfeminist.com...

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. It attacks the preconceived notion of feminism head on, and doesn't allow for any of the flimsy arguments held by the "big boys". Instead of being the radical, hating book that many (my roommate included) would assume it to be, Bravo present very rational, well-thought out means to begin to end discrimination in the workplace.

The other part of this I thought was excellent was how Bravo never stopped talking about other minorities, those affected by racial and sexual orientation discrimination. Often, white, heterosexual feminists will ignore this other large population, but Bravo always brings up their struggle in every situation.

Overall, this book is wonderful, and anyone who considers themselves not a feminist or an anti-feminist should read this book to know what exactly they've decided to stand against.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book because I have been discriminated against myself. One boss thought because of my age I would not be a good worker and gave my hours to younger kids. When he saw he actually work he said I could work circles around then and not have any complaints from the guests. I got my hours back and the kids did not. He made an assumption based on nothing. This book is not just about feminism and having equal rights but she also talks the rights of others from other nationalities. In high school my very friend was Chinese and I was the only one who would talk to him. He moved away, I was so upset. Really good book.

[Anjoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm not just plugging for my publishing house, i swear. this book is important AND readable/funny!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ideas in this were nothing new from what I'd read before, but it's a great primer and inspirational how-to for people who want to take action.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book states why it is important to combat discrimination against, but does not give enough solutions. I would like to see a book written about hard-hitting solutions to combat discrimination.

[sleeps9hours · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent book. Read it awhile ago and can't remember it that well.