Ep 421: Redefining Success In the Winner-Take-All Economy

Eleven years ago, Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” hit the shelves and became an instant hit. Her feminist manifesto encouraged women to stop holding themselves back from working to reach positions of power and instead lean on other women’s experiences to help them. Now, many women are pushing back on the “lean in” approach that placed so much responsibility on individual women rather than the societal and economic structures around them. They’re also questioning if they really want to have it all in the first place. 

In her new book: “Fair Shake: Women And The Fight To Build A Just Economy,” Naomi Cahn and her coauthors explore why our “winner takes all” economy is the root cause of women’s continued economic inequality rather than our individual actions. She also talks solutions, starting with making deeper connections in our communities and reaching out to them for support when we need it. 

In Mailbag, we hear from a listener who’s feeling burned out in the healthcare field but knows her coworkers are already short-staffed and doesn't want to leave them in a bind, and Jean’s daughter Julia answers a listener's question on where to find friends that are as career-oriented as she is.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:03:12 - Interview with Naomi Khan

00:07:51 - Winner Take All Economy

00:10:18 - Intersection of Feminist Theory and Workplace Progress

00:14:43 - The Triple Bind Women Face in the Workplace

00:17:47 - Strategies for Women to Navigate Career Challenges

00:28:08 - Solutions to Combat the Winner-Take-All Economy

00:33:17 - Mailbag Segment Begins

Takeaways: 

• The gender wage gap remains a persistent issue, with women earning an average of 82% of what men earn.
• The winner-take-all economy, characterized by income inequality and a focus on individual financial success, holds women back in the workplace.
• Feminist theory is essential in addressing gender equity and dismantling the structures that perpetuate inequality.
• Systemic changes, such as increasing transparency, strengthening laws, and investing in individuals and communities, are necessary to build a just economy.

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