Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR political correspondent and author of the Substack, This F**king Job, joins the podcast to discuss what went wrong with Sheryl Sandberg's book Lean In, the rise of 'girl boss' culture, and the lack of nuance in conversations about feminism. They also emphasize the importance of supporting women and the power of collective action
Lean In sparked important conversations about feminism and inspired positive change despite its focus on individual solutions rather than systemic issues.
Critiques of Lean In pointed out its failure to address the experiences of low-wage women, women of color, and single mothers, highlighting the need for intersectionality in feminist discussions.
Deep dives
The Impact of Lean In
Lean In, a book by Cheryl Sandberg, was published in 2013 and had a significant impact on women in the workplace. It resonated with many women who felt validated and empowered by its message. The book highlighted issues such as sexism, lack of representation, and gender inequality in corporate America. It provided concrete strategies for women to navigate these challenges and strive for success. While Lean In received criticism for its focus on individual solutions rather than addressing systemic issues, it sparked important conversations and inspired some positive change.
The Evolution and Critiques of Lean In
Over the years, the shine of Lean In has faded as critiques of the book and its movement emerged. Intersectional feminists pointed out its failure to address the experiences of low-wage women, women of color, and single mothers. The book's emphasis on personal empowerment and individual responsibility was also seen as limited in addressing the systemic barriers that hold women back. Despite its flaws, Lean In opened up important discussions about feminism and prompted reflection on what it means to be a good feminist.
The Challenges of Achieving Lasting Change
While Lean In and the subsequent Me Too movement brought attention to gender inequality and workplace harassment, progress towards gender equity has been slow. Gender discrimination, the pressure on individual women to change, and the lack of substantial societal change persist. However, change is possible, and individuals can contribute by advocating for policies that promote equality, engaging in activism, and supporting one another. While the road to achieving true gender equality may be long and challenging, it is essential to continue pushing for change and creating a more inclusive and equal world for all.
On this week’s episode of The Waves, why can’t the feminists all get along? Slate senior producer Cheyna Roth is joined by Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR political correspondent and author of the Substack, This F**king Job. They dig into what went wrong with Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In, why it wasn’t all completely wrong, and how to stop giving anti-feminists the ammo they need to attack.
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