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Just Not That Likable: The Price All Women Pay for Gender Bias
Senator Romero provides the first comprehensive accounting of why we like “Howard” but dislike “Heidi” in leadership roles—and what we can do to overcome this gender bias.
Gloria Romero—former California Senate Majority Leader and Professor Emeritus of Psychology—shatters the glass ceiling in a sweeping takedown of gender bias at the workplace and the price women and society pay for the virulent, double standard of “the likability factor” that persists in the workplace. She exposes the link between success and likability that 21st-century women leaders face in politics and the workplace.
In a book both accessible and enlightening, Senator Romero stands as a woman unafraid to break down barriers for women. As the first female Majority Leader of the upper house in California’s State Legislature, she authored major reform laws in public education, criminal justice, governmental ethics, and transparency.
Just Not That Likable is the story of a trailblazer who understood that while the 20th-century sexism of unequal pay for equal work had been outlawed and anti-discrimination laws had become common, there was still a hidden likability penalty and the so-called “double bind” applied to successful women. The book features the most comprehensive review to date of what is known about the “double bind” faced by women executives and they are expected to exhibit strength and lead, but are penalized as being “abrasive” or exhibiting characteristics stereotyped as being masculine. Drawing on her own life as well, Senator Romero’s journey leads her to the realization that when women smash through the persisting ceiling—still with us in the 21st century—the shards cut. Too deep and too often, these practices and behaviors shut down opportunity for our daughters, sisters, and each other. Just Not That Likable recognizes that our workplaces must promote practices, policies, and cultures which confront and disassemble this double bind for women.
Gloria Romero—former California Senate Majority Leader and Professor Emeritus of Psychology—shatters the glass ceiling in a sweeping takedown of gender bias at the workplace and the price women and society pay for the virulent, double standard of “the likability factor” that persists in the workplace. She exposes the link between success and likability that 21st-century women leaders face in politics and the workplace.
In a book both accessible and enlightening, Senator Romero stands as a woman unafraid to break down barriers for women. As the first female Majority Leader of the upper house in California’s State Legislature, she authored major reform laws in public education, criminal justice, governmental ethics, and transparency.
Just Not That Likable is the story of a trailblazer who understood that while the 20th-century sexism of unequal pay for equal work had been outlawed and anti-discrimination laws had become common, there was still a hidden likability penalty and the so-called “double bind” applied to successful women. The book features the most comprehensive review to date of what is known about the “double bind” faced by women executives and they are expected to exhibit strength and lead, but are penalized as being “abrasive” or exhibiting characteristics stereotyped as being masculine. Drawing on her own life as well, Senator Romero’s journey leads her to the realization that when women smash through the persisting ceiling—still with us in the 21st century—the shards cut. Too deep and too often, these practices and behaviors shut down opportunity for our daughters, sisters, and each other. Just Not That Likable recognizes that our workplaces must promote practices, policies, and cultures which confront and disassemble this double bind for women.
160 pages, Hardcover
Published October 19, 2021
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April 13, 2022If you’ve never dipped your toes into this subject before, this would be a good place to start. If however you have read quite a bit about gender bias (particularly in the workplace) then you could definitely skip this one.
April 26, 2022
Before I can review the book... I have to say that it started very weirdly. There was a really long intro with a set of advertisements / endorsements for the author. That just felt a bit odd. I know books often have a little intro from someone else... but yeah... felt like it went on for a while.
Whilst the book brings in lots of good examples from the author's own life and stats, research pieces and stories of others... ultimately, I didn't find that it went into nearly enough detail. Maybe this book was written for an audience who disagree with the sexist likeability challenge that women face in public life (or indeed... in all areas)? If you read this book and found it interesting, but wish it had more... I'd recommend reading The Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart - covers a similar topic, but in more detail, adding more nuance and actually adding in some examples of how this could be dealt with.
Whilst the book brings in lots of good examples from the author's own life and stats, research pieces and stories of others... ultimately, I didn't find that it went into nearly enough detail. Maybe this book was written for an audience who disagree with the sexist likeability challenge that women face in public life (or indeed... in all areas)? If you read this book and found it interesting, but wish it had more... I'd recommend reading The Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart - covers a similar topic, but in more detail, adding more nuance and actually adding in some examples of how this could be dealt with.
October 8, 2022
The first half does a great job outlining the main topics in the academic literature on women in business/leadership. The second half goes off topic and talks about stereotypes of women of colour in the media, which is not bad but does not appear as informed by existing research.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews