No Excuses: Nine Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power

by Gloria Feldt

Overview

An invaluable guidebook, which contends that the most vexing problems facing women today isn't that doors of opportunity aren't open but that not enough women are walking through them


Feminist icon Gloria Feldt pulls no punches in this new book, which argues that the most confounding problem facing women today isn't that doors of opportunity aren't open, but that not enough women are walking through them. From the boardroom to the bedroom, public office to personal relationships, she asserts that nobody is keeping women from parity-except themselves.
Feldt puts women's power into an historical context, showing the ways in which women have made huge leaps forward in the past, only to pull back right when they were at the threshold. Feldt argues that there's no excuse-whether it's the way women are socialized, or pressure to conform, or work/life balance issues-for women today not to own their power. Women are still facing unequal pay, being passed over for promotions, entering public office at a much lesser rate than men, and oftentimes still struggling with traditional power dynamics in their interpersonal relationships. Feldt's solution to all these places where women face inequality is the same: we need to shift the way we think to achieve true parity with our male counterparts.

No Excuses is divided into nine chapters that organized around how women can change the way they think, and therefore the way they act. These include: Know Your History and You Can Create the Future of Your Choice; Define the Terms-First; Embrace Controversy; Employ Every Medium; and other helpful ideas for using the tools and resources women already have to create the changes they want to see. No Excuses is a timely and invaluable book to help women equalize gender power in politics, work, and love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580053884
Publisher:	Basic Books
Publication date:	02/28/2012
Edition description:	First Trade Paper Edition
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Gloria Feldt is the author of The War on Choice (Bantam 2004), a nationally prominent women's rights activist, and the former President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Table of Contents

Prologue your unlimited moment (and Why There Are No Excuses for Not Embracing It This Time) 7

Part 1 Pieces Of Resistance

Chapter 1 understand: You've Come a Long Way, Maybe 25

Chapter 2 redefine: Not Power-Over, Power-To 63

Chapter 3 unblock: Power Unused Is Power Useless 97

Chapter 4 be unafraid: Opt Out of Being Co-opted 129

Part 2 Power-To Essentials

Chapter 5 unfetter: Secure £500 and a Womb of Your Own 171

Chapter 6 unlimit yourself: Stand in Power, Walk with Intention 211

Chapter 7 unleash: Sister Courage 247

Chapter 8 just do it: Your Power Tools 291

Epilogue no excuses: Don't Follow Your Dream-Lead It! 337

notes 355

index 366

Editorial Reviews

As the former president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, Feldt (The War on Choice) has years of experience in shepherding feminist causes. In her latest book she examines how women can move past low societal expectations, learn to embrace their ambitions to advance feminism, and achieve equality by addressing power and leadership. Feldt focuses on Hillary Clinton's campaign for president and several female business executives and entrepreneurs, illustrating how women can mobilize support to advance everyone. Her advice is sharp, well-documented, and supported by anecdotal evidence. She manages to balance a generous feeling of support with a sense of urgency; though women are moving closer to equality, Feldt argues that they remain in danger of losing their gains and offers a great deal of practical advice for women who want to be active in politics, business, or their personal lives. With heartfelt encouragement and a push for empowerment through equality (including strategies for including men in feminist causes), this guide is accessible to all.
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