A longtime player in the women's labor movement, Bravo makes the case that feminism is not only good for women but also families, business, and the country. She relates stories from business and government that "unmask" the situations that patronize and trivialize women's contributions to the workplace. Identifying the "big boys" as those who strive to maintain the status quo, the author argues for feminism as a system of beliefs, laws, and practices that fully values women and their work. She also provides activist strategies for readers to help achieve a society where both men and women are able to reach their full potential. Although there may still be work to do in terms of women's equality in the workplace, the strident feminisms of the 1970s seems out of place in today's society, albeit one where there are few females CEOs and even fewer females on corporate boards. As a 20-year director of the feminist organization 9 to 5, the author gives us a liberal dose of feminist history as she tries to reframe the old debates. Gail Whitcomb
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Review
“Please, please, please. All working women must read this book! Ellen Bravo not only vividly exposes workplace inequities, she gives real-life solutions, picking up where my film 9 to 5 left off.” —Jane Fonda, activist and actor
“Taking on the Big Boys is not only an enormously valuable resource for anyone wanting to contribute to a better world, but a powerful and much-needed shot at combating the demonization of the F-word. This is a book to take into battle.” —Bitch Magazine
“A witty, statistically supported, and readable book that provides a strong message sure to foster ideas and generate debate. Summing Up: Highly recommended.” —Choice
“Taking on the Big Boys is feminism at its butt-kicking best—an exposé, a manifesto, and a spirited, delightful read. I thought I knew a lot about women’s economic status before I read this book, but I had barely scratched the surface. Bravo for Bravo!” —Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed
“Smart, kind, funny, and very effective, [Bravo] has put her lifetime of organizing skills into Taking on the Big Boys.” —Gloria Steinem, author of My Life on the Road
“Bravo enlightens the reader in a no-nonsense way on deep-seated workplace attitudes and practices that hinder women’s progress on the pay front. More importantly she shows us how public policy is influenced through a variety of tactics used by opponents.” —Martha Burk, cofounder of the Center for Advancement of Public Policy
“Taking on the Big Boys shines a bright light on the pervasive bias against mothers who work along with the high price we all have to pay for failing to support parent’s dual responsibilities. Happily fixing the problem is not only the right thing to do but good for everyone.” —Joan Blades, cofounder of MoveOn.org
About the Author
Ellen Bravo is a long-time activist, author, and former director of 9 to 5, the National Association of Working Women. A well-known speaker, she has been described as "moving, witty, and sometimes bawdy." Bravo teaches Women's Studies at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. She and her husband, a high school teacher, raised two sons.
