Under the Bus: How Working Women Are Being Run Over

by Caroline Fredrickson

“Did you think you knew the facts about women and work? Think again . . . a terrific book . . . utterly gripping.” ―Peter Edelman, author of  So Rich, So Poor
 
For women in professional and corporate jobs, much of the discrimination and inequity faced in the past has been confronted―and at least to some extent, conquered. But the fact is that we have a two-tiered system, where some working women have a full panoply of rights while others have few or none at all. We allow blatant discrimination by small employers. Domestic workers are cut out of our wage and overtime laws. Part-time workers, disproportionately women, are denied basic benefits. Laws have been written through a process of compromise and negotiation, and in each case vulnerable workers were the bargaining chip that was sacrificed to guarantee the policy’s enactment. For these workers, the system that was supposed to act as a safety net has become a sieve―and they are still falling through.
 
Caroline Fredrickson is a powerful advocate and DC insider who has witnessed the legislative compromises that leave out temps, farmworkers, staff at small businesses, immigrants, and others who fall outside an intentionally narrow definition of “employees.” The women in this fast-growing part of the workforce are denied minimum wage, maternity leave, health care, the right to unionize, and protection from harassment and discrimination―all within the bounds of the law. If current trends continue, their fate will be the future of all American workers.
 
“[An] informative, occasionally shocking exploration of the state of women’s rights in the workplace.” ― Kirkus   Reviews

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Politics, Social Justice, Womens, Business

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

President of American Constitution Society. Former special assistant for legislative affairs to President Bill Clinton.

Reviews

[Caroline Fredrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I'm a bit biased . . . .

[Bob Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a great deal from this book about quality of life obstacles women, and disproportionately women of color, face on account of retrograde and self-hindering U.S. policies that simply do not address critical issues and make balancing work and family life needlessly exasperating or impossible to navigate. I found it a well-written, accessible polemic that packs a punch and am recommending to a number of people I know. Kudos to Caroline Frederickson for this book and for her efforts more broadly to sound this trumpet.

[Aaron Chu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empowering and informative, Frederickson reveals much of the shambles that is the current Labor laws, which continue to exploit working class women (many women of color) since the New Deal. From the exclusion of small companies in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to the malicious re-categorization of "employees" as a way for companies to avoid paying benefits, Frederickson illustrated many road blocks in the fight for gender equality in today's work place. My favorite part is the stories that are told in the book, which is crucial for one to understand what these non-elitist women have to go through as women, and sometimes as mothers as well. Not all women have the luxury to "opt-out" and these stories inspire us not to "Lean In", but lean together and in solidarity.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had wanted to read this for a while and I was not disappointed. What is disappointing, however, is how women continue to economically fall behind. Even though there are fair pay, family leave and antidiscrimination laws, the population most in need of protection (low-wage women of color) are left out or minimally covered.

[Michael Bassili · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent insight into the injustices against women that have been instituted in American society.

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the information covered within was insightful, the writing itself was mediocre. I liked learning more about the topic, but ran out of time to trudge through the prose to finish it. It's great to see that there is at least one book covering women for whom putting food on the table for their family has to trump any considerations on whether to "lean in" or not.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend picking this up. It's a good exploration of how laws and legislation have been constructed in ways that continually push lower class workers down. Includes some amazing sexist and racist quotes from the congressional record, and the authors discussion of how she helped writes legislation that perpetuates discrimination workout really being aware of how she was doing so.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

How they are being run over is detailed carefully. How to fix it is described as well. Every woman should have access to fair treatment, fair pay, child care, health care, leave options and more. It's infuriating to read, how time after time, women and particularly women of color are excluded from all protections.

[sacha kenton · Rating 2 out of 5]

you have to be a moron not to know the stuff in here. i mean the info is ok but kudos to you if you learned something you didn't know. you're alive? i feel like this could be called 'duh'
oh and it's highly publicized for some reason like this is the new twilight genre

[suzbug3 suzbug3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding. A bit polemical but for someone who knew nothing about the loopholes surrounding labor laws, a remarkable eye opener.

[Melissa Ooten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I've needed to add to my Gender and Work course.

[Rebecca]

Heard about on a Politically Reactive podcast.