Slate Gender and Society
The Waves: In Defense of Lean In Feminism
Dec 14, 2023
NPR political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben joins the show to discuss what went wrong with Sheryl Sandberg's book Lean In, the value and criticisms of Lean In feminism, and the need for structural change in feminism. They also explore the lack of nuance in feminist conversations and the importance of being a good feminist by being kind and supportive to women and people of all genders.
30:14
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Quick takeaways
- 'Lean In' had a positive impact in validating women's experiences of sexism and providing actionable steps in the workplace, despite facing criticism for its failure to address intersectionality and the realities of low-wage women and single moms.
- The feminist movement should engage in nuanced discussions and not dismiss valid criticisms of 'Lean In', while also being cautious of allowing those criticisms to be co-opted by those outside the movement.
Deep dives
The Impact of Lean In and its Flaws
The podcast episode discusses the impact of the book 'Lean In' by Cheryl Sandberg and Nell Scovell, which was a bestseller in 2013 and aimed to empower women in the workplace. It explores how the book resonated with many women, validating their experiences of sexism and providing actionable steps to navigate the working world. While 'Lean In' received widespread recognition, it also faced criticism for its failure to address intersectionality and the realities of low-wage women and single moms. The episode highlights the need to acknowledge the book's limitations while recognizing the positive impact it had on opening eyes to workplace inequality.
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