THE AUTHORITY GAP
Why Women Are Still Taken Less Seriously Than Men, and What We Can Do About It
by Mary Ann Sieghart
An examination of “the mother of all gender gaps.”
London-based journalist Sieghart recounts how, while attending a conference, she sat next to a banker who inquired about her occupation. After she answered, he exclaimed, “Wow, you’re a busy little girl!” She was 50 at the time. This is just one of the many examples that the author offers as evidence that, despite some progress, women are still taken less seriously than men. Sieghart contends that women (and those who identify as women) are still routinely patronized by men, have their views ignored or their expertise challenged, are talked over by male colleagues, and have subordinates resist them as bosses. To further support her claims, the author provides details from research studies as well as interviews with numerous women who have held high-ranking positions. These include Madeleine Albright, Janet Yellen, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Bachelet, and Julia Gillard, who also provide firsthand accounts of their experiences. Sieghart examines the biases that many men (as well as women) have toward women, which are often “irrational and anachronistic product[s] of social conditioning and outdated stereotypes.” From an early age, she writes, “we absorb the notion that girls and women are designed to be ornamental and boys and men to be instrumental.” The author also contends that adults reinforce these stereotypes, often unwittingly, when they engage with children. To counteract this problem, she delivers meaningful and easily actionable suggestions for individuals and society. For example, Sieghart suggests that if fathers are more involved in raising their children, sons will “have a more egalitarian perspective” of women’s roles. Regarding schooling, the author shows how teachers can help increase the confidence of girls by encouraging them to speak up in class. She also implores journalists to resist devoting so much time to women’s appearances.
An important and hopeful reminder that much work is still needed in order to bridge unjust gaps between women and men.