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Patriarchy Inc.: What We Get Wrong About Gender Equality—and Why Men Still Win at Work
A razor-sharp and quick-witted analysis of why we need a new approach to fixing the gender inequality in work
Work remains much as it always has: Men occupy the vast majority of leadership roles and are overrepresented in positions, from engineer to plumber. We regard many jobs as “male” or “female,” with women dominating healthcare and childcare professions. Pretending this is the natural order of things―or that instead both sexes should submit to working 24/7―is wrong.
In Patriarchy Inc., Cordelia Fine examines why gender inequality is embedded in the workplace and why it has to change. Drawing on theories from evolutionary science, psychology, economics, and sociology, she looks at two of the most prominent movements in the corporate world: The "Different but Equal" viewpoint, which asserts that women are in the jobs they want despite their lower status and salaries, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), which emphasizes productivity and profit, not fairness. Fine shows how everyone loses when men remain in traditional breadwinner roles and women have to fight for their due.
Offering perceptive and much-needed insight into the current state of work, Patriarchy Inc. explores how we can get closer to achieving equality, even if it means upturning business as usual.
Work remains much as it always has: Men occupy the vast majority of leadership roles and are overrepresented in positions, from engineer to plumber. We regard many jobs as “male” or “female,” with women dominating healthcare and childcare professions. Pretending this is the natural order of things―or that instead both sexes should submit to working 24/7―is wrong.
In Patriarchy Inc., Cordelia Fine examines why gender inequality is embedded in the workplace and why it has to change. Drawing on theories from evolutionary science, psychology, economics, and sociology, she looks at two of the most prominent movements in the corporate world: The "Different but Equal" viewpoint, which asserts that women are in the jobs they want despite their lower status and salaries, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), which emphasizes productivity and profit, not fairness. Fine shows how everyone loses when men remain in traditional breadwinner roles and women have to fight for their due.
Offering perceptive and much-needed insight into the current state of work, Patriarchy Inc. explores how we can get closer to achieving equality, even if it means upturning business as usual.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published August 19, 2025
21 people are currently reading
2895 people want to read
About the author
Cordelia Fine
10 books477 followersCordelia Fine is a prize winning author and academic. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Scientific American, and Times Literary supplement. Cordelia won the Royal Society Science Book Prize in 2017, and was awarded the 2018 Edinburgh Medal, which honors men and women of science who have made a significant contribution to the understanding and well-being of humanity. In 2023 she was named a 'living legend' by The Australian newspaper.
Cordelia has a PhD in Psychology from University College London and is Professor in the History & Philosophy of Science program at the University of Melbourne.
Photo credit: Peter Casamento
Cordelia has a PhD in Psychology from University College London and is Professor in the History & Philosophy of Science program at the University of Melbourne.
Photo credit: Peter Casamento
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 26, 2025
This eye-opening book is for anyone who’s ever argued with a gender essentialist evo-psych bro. The writer skillfully debunks myths about why men are still at the top of most workplaces while providing practical solutions for achieving real gender equality. I’m so glad I read this book and I’ve already taken another by this author out from the library!
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July 13, 2025Cordelia Fine sits in a hallowed small group who write about gender with skill.
Building on her three previous books, this is a magnificent and surgical take down of the smug “Different but Equal” approach of evolutionary psychologists (women as nurturers, men as thinkers etc) and market based corporate diversity (don’t waste the woman resource!) that continues to patronise women. And frankly also men.
Cordelia’s skill is that she doesn’t shy away from all the arguments. Instead she examines them carefully giving them a full dose of sunlight. And when given that heat ray they are shown to be mere shrivelled husks of an idea shrouded in unsubstantiated belief.
The one issue with Cordelia’s work is that it is written for those who can engage with the research and thus may be less appealing to someone wanting an easier read.
Building on her three previous books, this is a magnificent and surgical take down of the smug “Different but Equal” approach of evolutionary psychologists (women as nurturers, men as thinkers etc) and market based corporate diversity (don’t waste the woman resource!) that continues to patronise women. And frankly also men.
Cordelia’s skill is that she doesn’t shy away from all the arguments. Instead she examines them carefully giving them a full dose of sunlight. And when given that heat ray they are shown to be mere shrivelled husks of an idea shrouded in unsubstantiated belief.
The one issue with Cordelia’s work is that it is written for those who can engage with the research and thus may be less appealing to someone wanting an easier read.
July 11, 2025
This book offers an interesting deconstruction of the persistent gender inequality that plagues the modern workplace. While not especially offering any novel framework for critique or change, the author still offers some useful ideas. She posits that the disparity is not a matter of innate differences between the sexes, nor is it a problem that can be solved by corporate-sponsored diversity and inclusion initiatives. Instead, she argues, it is the product of a deeply embedded systemic issue: a "gendered division of labor" that she terms "Patriarchy Inc." This review will begin by delving into the central thesis of her work, then explore its thematic underpinnings, and finally, critically examine its limitations in scope, radicalism, and intersectional analysis.
The book's central thesis asserts that gender inequality in the workplace is a structural phenomenon. She meticulously dismantles two of the most prevalent contemporary narratives. The first, the "Different But Equal" argument, which suggests that women freely choose less demanding or lower-paying roles due to inherent predispositions, is exposed as a convenient fiction that ignores the powerful societal brainwashing that starts from birth. The author compellingly argues that from the toys children are given to the subjects they are encouraged to pursue, a gendered path is laid out long before any career choices are made. The second narrative to fall under her critical gaze is the corporate-friendly Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) industry. She contends that these initiatives often serve as a public relations veneer, focusing on "fixing" women to fit into a system designed by and for men, rather than addressing the fundamental inequities of that system. The "business case" for diversity, she argues, prioritizes profit over genuine fairness, ultimately failing to deliver meaningful change. She is basically critiquing diversity washing or "woke washing", that is done by many businesses.
A key theme connected to the central argument is the concept of "greedy jobs." These are high-status, high-paying positions that demand long hours and unwavering commitment, effectively penalizing anyone with significant caregiving responsibilities—a role that still disproportionately falls to women. This structure, the author illustrates, perpetuates the gender pay gap and the scarcity of women in leadership positions. It is not, she contends, a reflection of women's lesser ambition, but a rational response to a system that makes it incredibly difficult to combine a demanding career with a fulfilling family life. By design, "greedy jobs" favor the "ideal worker" who is unencumbered by domestic duties, a model historically embodied by men with wives at home to manage the private sphere. She traces the historical and cultural roots of this "gendered division of labor." She demonstrates how the mass entry of women into the workforce did not dismantle patriarchal structures but rather adapted them. Women were integrated into the workforce as women, often in roles that mirrored their domestic responsibilities or were deemed less valuable, thus depressing wages in those sectors. This historical perspective is crucial to understanding how seemingly neutral workplace norms and practices are, in fact, laden with gendered assumptions that continue to disadvantage women.
For all its astute analysis of the inner workings of "Patriarchy Inc.," the book can be easily criticized for its limited scope and a discernible lack of radicalism in its proposed solutions. While the author masterfully diagnoses the illness, her prescription feels disappointingly tame. The book excels at pointing out the flaws in existing corporate and societal structures but falls short of advocating for the fundamental, systemic overhaul that her own analysis suggests is necessary. The critique often remains within the confines of the existing capitalist framework, seeking to make it a fairer, more equitable system rather than questioning the system itself. The proposed solutions, which include more flexible work arrangements and a greater emphasis on meritocratic transparency, while commendable, feel like incremental adjustments to a fundamentally flawed machine. A truly radical critique would question the very nature of "work" in a capitalist society, the valorization of "greedy jobs," and the economic structures that necessitate such all-consuming professional lives. The book's focus on professional and managerial workplaces also narrows its applicability, with less attention paid to the experiences of working-class women whose struggles with the gendered division of labor are compounded by economic precarity.
This leads to the most significant shortcoming of Patriarchy Inc.: its surprisingly scant discussion of intersectionality, particularly concerning class structure and material conditions. In a book that meticulously details pay gaps and the differential treatment of women in the workplace, the absence of a robust and radical critique of capitalism and its inherent hierarchies is a glaring omission. While the author acknowledges that gender is not the only axis of inequality, the analysis rarely moves beyond a liberal feminist framework that centers the experiences of professional, upwardly mobile women. The book would have been substantially enriched by a deeper engagement with socialist and materialist feminist critiques. These perspectives would highlight how the "gendered division of labor" is not merely a product of patriarchal ideology but is also a cornerstone of capitalist accumulation. The exploitation of women's unpaid domestic labor, the creation of a low-wage "pink-collar" workforce, and the use of gender to divide and control the working class are all crucial aspects of the interplay between patriarchy and capitalism that remain underdeveloped in her analysis. Furthermore, there is no critical discussion of race, LGBTQ+, disability or other forms of systemic discrimination that inevitably link up with patriarchy in the workplace.
By not sufficiently interrogating the foundational logic of capitalism, which prioritizes profit and competition above all else, Patriarchy Inc. ultimately proposes a more humane form of a system that is inherently inhumane. A truly intersectional approach would necessitate a more profound questioning of the hierarchical structures that produce not only gender inequality but also class exploitation and racial oppression. While Cordelia Fine has undoubtedly provided a valuable and accessible critique of the contemporary workplace, her "Patriarchy Inc." ultimately feels like a call for a more benevolent board of directors rather than a fundamental reimagining of the corporation itself. If anyone has suggestions for more radical feminist works please do share, I am looking for something more akin to Emma Goldman and Simone de Beauvoir's works but contemporary.
The book's central thesis asserts that gender inequality in the workplace is a structural phenomenon. She meticulously dismantles two of the most prevalent contemporary narratives. The first, the "Different But Equal" argument, which suggests that women freely choose less demanding or lower-paying roles due to inherent predispositions, is exposed as a convenient fiction that ignores the powerful societal brainwashing that starts from birth. The author compellingly argues that from the toys children are given to the subjects they are encouraged to pursue, a gendered path is laid out long before any career choices are made. The second narrative to fall under her critical gaze is the corporate-friendly Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) industry. She contends that these initiatives often serve as a public relations veneer, focusing on "fixing" women to fit into a system designed by and for men, rather than addressing the fundamental inequities of that system. The "business case" for diversity, she argues, prioritizes profit over genuine fairness, ultimately failing to deliver meaningful change. She is basically critiquing diversity washing or "woke washing", that is done by many businesses.
A key theme connected to the central argument is the concept of "greedy jobs." These are high-status, high-paying positions that demand long hours and unwavering commitment, effectively penalizing anyone with significant caregiving responsibilities—a role that still disproportionately falls to women. This structure, the author illustrates, perpetuates the gender pay gap and the scarcity of women in leadership positions. It is not, she contends, a reflection of women's lesser ambition, but a rational response to a system that makes it incredibly difficult to combine a demanding career with a fulfilling family life. By design, "greedy jobs" favor the "ideal worker" who is unencumbered by domestic duties, a model historically embodied by men with wives at home to manage the private sphere. She traces the historical and cultural roots of this "gendered division of labor." She demonstrates how the mass entry of women into the workforce did not dismantle patriarchal structures but rather adapted them. Women were integrated into the workforce as women, often in roles that mirrored their domestic responsibilities or were deemed less valuable, thus depressing wages in those sectors. This historical perspective is crucial to understanding how seemingly neutral workplace norms and practices are, in fact, laden with gendered assumptions that continue to disadvantage women.
For all its astute analysis of the inner workings of "Patriarchy Inc.," the book can be easily criticized for its limited scope and a discernible lack of radicalism in its proposed solutions. While the author masterfully diagnoses the illness, her prescription feels disappointingly tame. The book excels at pointing out the flaws in existing corporate and societal structures but falls short of advocating for the fundamental, systemic overhaul that her own analysis suggests is necessary. The critique often remains within the confines of the existing capitalist framework, seeking to make it a fairer, more equitable system rather than questioning the system itself. The proposed solutions, which include more flexible work arrangements and a greater emphasis on meritocratic transparency, while commendable, feel like incremental adjustments to a fundamentally flawed machine. A truly radical critique would question the very nature of "work" in a capitalist society, the valorization of "greedy jobs," and the economic structures that necessitate such all-consuming professional lives. The book's focus on professional and managerial workplaces also narrows its applicability, with less attention paid to the experiences of working-class women whose struggles with the gendered division of labor are compounded by economic precarity.
This leads to the most significant shortcoming of Patriarchy Inc.: its surprisingly scant discussion of intersectionality, particularly concerning class structure and material conditions. In a book that meticulously details pay gaps and the differential treatment of women in the workplace, the absence of a robust and radical critique of capitalism and its inherent hierarchies is a glaring omission. While the author acknowledges that gender is not the only axis of inequality, the analysis rarely moves beyond a liberal feminist framework that centers the experiences of professional, upwardly mobile women. The book would have been substantially enriched by a deeper engagement with socialist and materialist feminist critiques. These perspectives would highlight how the "gendered division of labor" is not merely a product of patriarchal ideology but is also a cornerstone of capitalist accumulation. The exploitation of women's unpaid domestic labor, the creation of a low-wage "pink-collar" workforce, and the use of gender to divide and control the working class are all crucial aspects of the interplay between patriarchy and capitalism that remain underdeveloped in her analysis. Furthermore, there is no critical discussion of race, LGBTQ+, disability or other forms of systemic discrimination that inevitably link up with patriarchy in the workplace.
By not sufficiently interrogating the foundational logic of capitalism, which prioritizes profit and competition above all else, Patriarchy Inc. ultimately proposes a more humane form of a system that is inherently inhumane. A truly intersectional approach would necessitate a more profound questioning of the hierarchical structures that produce not only gender inequality but also class exploitation and racial oppression. While Cordelia Fine has undoubtedly provided a valuable and accessible critique of the contemporary workplace, her "Patriarchy Inc." ultimately feels like a call for a more benevolent board of directors rather than a fundamental reimagining of the corporation itself. If anyone has suggestions for more radical feminist works please do share, I am looking for something more akin to Emma Goldman and Simone de Beauvoir's works but contemporary.
May 31, 2025
This is a brilliant and necessary book that helps us understand why patriarchy — and the power men continue to hold over women — still persists today. Cordelia doesn’t shy away from confronting some of the most deep-rooted gender myths, especially those from the “different but equal” camp who argue that biology or evolution (like testosterone) explains the supposed differences in men’s and women’s preferences and abilities. She takes on these claims one by one, drawing on a vast body of scientific evidence and theoretical insights — her own and others’ — until it becomes clear just how flimsy and absurd these arguments really are. Best of all, the book is accessible, sharp, and genuinely funny. Cordelia is a fantastic writer, and I found myself looking forward to reading it every evening. A must-read!
December 20, 2025
as always, big fan of cordelia fine — the problem is that most people that would benefit from this information are not the ones who would ever read such books
July 1, 2025
Patriarchy Inc.: What We Get Wrong About Gender Equality—and Why Men Still Win at Work – A Incisive Call to Rethink Workplace Equity
Rating: 4.8/5
Cordelia Fine’s Patriarchy Inc. is a tour de force that dissects the systemic scaffolding upholding gender inequality in the modern workplace with surgical precision and biting wit. As someone who has navigated corporate DEI initiatives with both hope and skepticism, this book resonated deeply—equal parts validating and unsettling, like a mirror held up to society’s contradictions.
Why This Book Stands Out
Fine demolishes two pervasive myths: that occupational segregation reflects innate preferences (“Different but Equal”) and that DEI policies alone can dismantle structural inequities. Her interdisciplinary approach—weaving evolutionary science, psychology, and economics—exposes how gendered labor divisions reinforce male status and power, creating self-perpetuating cycles. The critique of DEI’s profit-centric framing (prioritizing productivity over justice) is particularly revelatory, reframing workplace equality as a moral imperative rather than a balance-sheet tactic.
Emotional Impact & Intellectual Revelations
Reading this book felt like attending a masterclass in feminist economics. Fine’s razor-sharp prose had me alternating between fist-pumping (her takedown of natural order rhetoric) and squirming (the analysis of how breadwinner norms harm men too). The chapter on care work’s devaluation sparked visceral frustration—I recalled my own experiences seeing female colleagues sidelined into office housework. Yet her vision of radical restructuring (e.g., redefining success beyond 24/7 availability) left me energized rather than defeated.
Constructive Criticism
While Fine’s focus on corporate structures is stellar, the book could benefit from deeper engagement with intersectionality (e.g., how race and class compound gendered barriers). A case study contrasting global workplace policies might have strengthened her call for systemic change. The humor, though refreshing, occasionally risks diluting the gravity of her arguments.
Final Verdict
Patriarchy Inc. is essential reading for executives, HR professionals, and anyone tired of equality as a buzzword. It’s not just a critique but a blueprint—one that demands we stop tinkering at the edges and rebuild the machine itself.
Thank you to Edelweiss and W. W. Norton for the gifted copy. Fine’s work is a rare blend of scholarly rigor and rebellious spirit—the kind that lingers long after the last page.
Pair with: A highlighter and a resolve to challenge the next “that’s just how it is” comment at work.
For fans of: Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Pérez, Lean Out by Dawn Foster, and The Gendered Brain by Gina Rippon.
Rating: 4.8/5
Cordelia Fine’s Patriarchy Inc. is a tour de force that dissects the systemic scaffolding upholding gender inequality in the modern workplace with surgical precision and biting wit. As someone who has navigated corporate DEI initiatives with both hope and skepticism, this book resonated deeply—equal parts validating and unsettling, like a mirror held up to society’s contradictions.
Why This Book Stands Out
Fine demolishes two pervasive myths: that occupational segregation reflects innate preferences (“Different but Equal”) and that DEI policies alone can dismantle structural inequities. Her interdisciplinary approach—weaving evolutionary science, psychology, and economics—exposes how gendered labor divisions reinforce male status and power, creating self-perpetuating cycles. The critique of DEI’s profit-centric framing (prioritizing productivity over justice) is particularly revelatory, reframing workplace equality as a moral imperative rather than a balance-sheet tactic.
Emotional Impact & Intellectual Revelations
Reading this book felt like attending a masterclass in feminist economics. Fine’s razor-sharp prose had me alternating between fist-pumping (her takedown of natural order rhetoric) and squirming (the analysis of how breadwinner norms harm men too). The chapter on care work’s devaluation sparked visceral frustration—I recalled my own experiences seeing female colleagues sidelined into office housework. Yet her vision of radical restructuring (e.g., redefining success beyond 24/7 availability) left me energized rather than defeated.
Constructive Criticism
While Fine’s focus on corporate structures is stellar, the book could benefit from deeper engagement with intersectionality (e.g., how race and class compound gendered barriers). A case study contrasting global workplace policies might have strengthened her call for systemic change. The humor, though refreshing, occasionally risks diluting the gravity of her arguments.
Final Verdict
Patriarchy Inc. is essential reading for executives, HR professionals, and anyone tired of equality as a buzzword. It’s not just a critique but a blueprint—one that demands we stop tinkering at the edges and rebuild the machine itself.
Thank you to Edelweiss and W. W. Norton for the gifted copy. Fine’s work is a rare blend of scholarly rigor and rebellious spirit—the kind that lingers long after the last page.
Pair with: A highlighter and a resolve to challenge the next “that’s just how it is” comment at work.
For fans of: Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Pérez, Lean Out by Dawn Foster, and The Gendered Brain by Gina Rippon.
July 14, 2025
Book Review: Patriarchy Inc.: What We Get Wrong About Gender Equality—and Why Men Still Win at Work by Cordelia Fine
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
🙏 Thank you to W. W. Norton for the early copy!
💭 Quick Vibe Check:
This isn’t your average “Lean In” pep talk. This is a smart, scathing, and surprisingly funny dissection of why corporate feminism has failed us and what we might do about it.
If you’ve ever sat through a company DEI presentation and wondered why nothing actually changes, or been told women just “prefer” certain jobs, Cordelia Fine has some receipts for you.
💡 What Hit Hard:
• Systemic breakdowns, not individual choices: This book wrecks the idea that women “choose” lower-paying jobs or less demanding roles. Spoiler: they’re forced to make the only “reasonable” choice in a rigged system.
• “Greedy jobs” concept = genius: High-paying, high-status jobs that demand all your time? Built for men with a stay-at-home wife. Fine makes the structural rot impossible to ignore.
• The DEI Drag: Corporate diversity initiatives that center profit instead of equity? Absolutely bodied.
• Clear, readable, and funny: For a book packed with research, it’s shockingly engaging. Fine's tone walks the perfect line between professor and cool older cousin who’s over everyone’s nonsense.
• Gender ≠ biology: She slices through evo-psych BS like a hot knife through gendered nonsense.
🤷🏻♀️ What Made Me Side-Eye:
• Liberal limits: For a book that critiques the system, it mostly offers reformist fixes instead of truly radical shifts.
• Not enough intersectionality: There’s some nods to other identities, but not nearly enough about race, class, disability, or queerness in relation to gendered labor.
• Narrow class lens: The analysis centers largely on white-collar/professional workplaces. Less focus on working-class realities, which need just as much (if not more) dismantling.
🏷️ TROPES / THEMES:
• Smash-the-system feminism (but office edition)
• Woke-washing + corporate feminism exposed
• Workplace history, labor theory, and cultural critique
• Gender ≠ destiny
• DEI ain't the answer
• Accessible sociology + biting humor
📝 Final Thoughts:
Patriarchy Inc. isn’t here to hold your hand through gender equality myths. It’s here to set them on fire with a well-footnoted flamethrower. Cordelia Fine gives us a deeply researched and immensely readable takedown of the status quo, showing how both evolutionary psychology and capitalism have conspired to keep women underpaid, underrepresented, and overworked.
It’s not perfect, it could go harder, go deeper, but it’s a fierce starting point if you’re ready to stop blaming women for a problem men (and markets) designed. A must-read for anyone who’s ever side-eyed a diversity slideshow at work and thought, “Wait… is this all we get?”
Read it, annotate it, and maybe accidentally leave a copy in your manager’s inbox. You know. Just in case. 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
🙏 Thank you to W. W. Norton for the early copy!
💭 Quick Vibe Check:
This isn’t your average “Lean In” pep talk. This is a smart, scathing, and surprisingly funny dissection of why corporate feminism has failed us and what we might do about it.
If you’ve ever sat through a company DEI presentation and wondered why nothing actually changes, or been told women just “prefer” certain jobs, Cordelia Fine has some receipts for you.
💡 What Hit Hard:
• Systemic breakdowns, not individual choices: This book wrecks the idea that women “choose” lower-paying jobs or less demanding roles. Spoiler: they’re forced to make the only “reasonable” choice in a rigged system.
• “Greedy jobs” concept = genius: High-paying, high-status jobs that demand all your time? Built for men with a stay-at-home wife. Fine makes the structural rot impossible to ignore.
• The DEI Drag: Corporate diversity initiatives that center profit instead of equity? Absolutely bodied.
• Clear, readable, and funny: For a book packed with research, it’s shockingly engaging. Fine's tone walks the perfect line between professor and cool older cousin who’s over everyone’s nonsense.
• Gender ≠ biology: She slices through evo-psych BS like a hot knife through gendered nonsense.
🤷🏻♀️ What Made Me Side-Eye:
• Liberal limits: For a book that critiques the system, it mostly offers reformist fixes instead of truly radical shifts.
• Not enough intersectionality: There’s some nods to other identities, but not nearly enough about race, class, disability, or queerness in relation to gendered labor.
• Narrow class lens: The analysis centers largely on white-collar/professional workplaces. Less focus on working-class realities, which need just as much (if not more) dismantling.
🏷️ TROPES / THEMES:
• Smash-the-system feminism (but office edition)
• Woke-washing + corporate feminism exposed
• Workplace history, labor theory, and cultural critique
• Gender ≠ destiny
• DEI ain't the answer
• Accessible sociology + biting humor
📝 Final Thoughts:
Patriarchy Inc. isn’t here to hold your hand through gender equality myths. It’s here to set them on fire with a well-footnoted flamethrower. Cordelia Fine gives us a deeply researched and immensely readable takedown of the status quo, showing how both evolutionary psychology and capitalism have conspired to keep women underpaid, underrepresented, and overworked.
It’s not perfect, it could go harder, go deeper, but it’s a fierce starting point if you’re ready to stop blaming women for a problem men (and markets) designed. A must-read for anyone who’s ever side-eyed a diversity slideshow at work and thought, “Wait… is this all we get?”
Read it, annotate it, and maybe accidentally leave a copy in your manager’s inbox. You know. Just in case. 🖤
June 26, 2025
Patriarchy Inc. examines persistent gender inequalities in the workplace, focusing on systemic structures that continue to favor men despite the progress in gender equality rhetoric. The book covers familiar issues such as unequal pay, biased promotions, and cultural norms that disadvantage women, but it lacks the depth and nuance found in more rigorous feminist scholarship.
While the author's points are valid and accessible, they remain surface-level, particularly in the critique of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, which is underdeveloped and lacks meaningful alternatives. The writing is clear but unremarkable, offering neither innovative analysis nor a compelling call to action.
As an introductory primer, it may be useful for newcomers to feminist discussions. However, for readers already familiar with radical feminist critiques of workplace dynamics, it feels like a rehash of established ideas without sufficient context, depth, or critical insight.
While the author's points are valid and accessible, they remain surface-level, particularly in the critique of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, which is underdeveloped and lacks meaningful alternatives. The writing is clear but unremarkable, offering neither innovative analysis nor a compelling call to action.
As an introductory primer, it may be useful for newcomers to feminist discussions. However, for readers already familiar with radical feminist critiques of workplace dynamics, it feels like a rehash of established ideas without sufficient context, depth, or critical insight.
August 7, 2025
Patriarchy Inc. is a well-researched academic text for an audience with a beginner-to-intermediate level of familiarity with the social issues surrounding gender in the labor market. I have done some prior reading on the topic so while there were some portions of this book that served as “refreshers” for me, there were still enough theories and ideas to chew on and keep me engaged. I really enjoyed how Fine presents a sort of dichotomy between the concept of evolutionary biology and cultural evolution, and presents a compelling argument for the latter. I appreciate that the last chapter of the book dealt with potential solutions for the problems outlined within the rest of the text, but would have preferred these ideas interwoven into the text a bit more, or an exploration of some solutions that have been attempted and were successful, or not. Overall a worthwhile and well-argued text.
November 23, 2025
Not light reading, often very academic in tone, but does the deeply important work of questioning the assumptions behind the most widely held views of gender differences in the workplace and offers a reasonable plan for what could be.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews