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elarkysavin's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
This is exactly what you’d expect from a feminist corporate mother. In other words, from a philosophical feminist literature perspective, she doesn’t go far enough. From a cultural impact and mass-appeal perspective, she knows how to make feminist policy initiatives interesting and appealing to read in their free time.
glendareads39's review
4.0
Very eye-opening and powerful book on gender equity in the workplace. Saujani shows the cost of inaction for families, women and economy through data and personal experience. Pay up is a call to action for business leaders.
brianlarson's review
5.0
PAY UP! Literally pay up and read this book (**looks at all the heterosexual men in the room**). I really wish I didn’t miss Saujani’s book talk at the 92nd Y last week, alas, “Pay Up” (the book) exceeded expectations.
Saujani (founder of Girls Who Code) makes a clear argument: pay working women what they’re worth (inclusive of stay at-home moms!). “Pay Up” is a cautionary book aimed at the heart of corporate America and the US government. While Saujani isn’t the first to consider COVID a “once in a generation” opportunity to restructure our caregiver economy, she is the first to marshal her troops to achieve “three critical public policies” aimed at creating a more equitable society. The Marshal Plan for Moms offers concrete steps that women (and men!) can take to ameliorate the historical one-sides burden of caretaking. (Though the book has some international anecdotes- the Icelandic “Women’s Day Off” example is anecdotal gold- it does find focus on the US and its workforce.)
“Pay Up” puts the definitive coffin death-knell in Sandberg’s “Lean In” strategy and Amoruso’s “Girl Boss.” Saujani confesses, “Because beneath the glossy, shimmering feminist promise of ‘having it all' is a dark truth that no one told me and that I unwittingly omitted from my rah rah empowerment rhetoric: ‘Having it all’ is really just a euphemism for ‘doing it all.’” I absolutely loved the inclusion of other, less top-of-mind voices throughout this conversation (Cain, Friedan, etc.).
Some of my favorite topics in “Pay Up” included the rise of alcoholism amongst women during COVID, the need for expanded CTCs, the identifying of “childcare deserts,” and discussion of LGBTQ “parental bonding leave.” It’s not everyday that topics like these come up when we discuss “the future of work.” Bravo!
Last- if you only have a half hour to read this book, Saujani has got your TLDR back! Flip to the last 3 chapters. The three actionable public policy recommendations found there are the heart of “Pay Up” (affordable childcare, guaranteed and paid parental leave, and continued cash payments to mothers (and parents)). Can we close the pay gap and rethink the caregiving economy to unload the burden on the backs of women? We can- but we, men and women, must band together and marshal the troops at home and in Washington!
Saujani (founder of Girls Who Code) makes a clear argument: pay working women what they’re worth (inclusive of stay at-home moms!). “Pay Up” is a cautionary book aimed at the heart of corporate America and the US government. While Saujani isn’t the first to consider COVID a “once in a generation” opportunity to restructure our caregiver economy, she is the first to marshal her troops to achieve “three critical public policies” aimed at creating a more equitable society. The Marshal Plan for Moms offers concrete steps that women (and men!) can take to ameliorate the historical one-sides burden of caretaking. (Though the book has some international anecdotes- the Icelandic “Women’s Day Off” example is anecdotal gold- it does find focus on the US and its workforce.)
“Pay Up” puts the definitive coffin death-knell in Sandberg’s “Lean In” strategy and Amoruso’s “Girl Boss.” Saujani confesses, “Because beneath the glossy, shimmering feminist promise of ‘having it all' is a dark truth that no one told me and that I unwittingly omitted from my rah rah empowerment rhetoric: ‘Having it all’ is really just a euphemism for ‘doing it all.’” I absolutely loved the inclusion of other, less top-of-mind voices throughout this conversation (Cain, Friedan, etc.).
Some of my favorite topics in “Pay Up” included the rise of alcoholism amongst women during COVID, the need for expanded CTCs, the identifying of “childcare deserts,” and discussion of LGBTQ “parental bonding leave.” It’s not everyday that topics like these come up when we discuss “the future of work.” Bravo!
Last- if you only have a half hour to read this book, Saujani has got your TLDR back! Flip to the last 3 chapters. The three actionable public policy recommendations found there are the heart of “Pay Up” (affordable childcare, guaranteed and paid parental leave, and continued cash payments to mothers (and parents)). Can we close the pay gap and rethink the caregiving economy to unload the burden on the backs of women? We can- but we, men and women, must band together and marshal the troops at home and in Washington!
vireogirl's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
Topics we need to be talking about but I wasn’t too fond of her style. Lots of yelling, exclamations, italics, and crowded chapters.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Child death, and Racism
cchotze's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
hanlov's review
4.0
Won this in a goodreads giveaway, so thank you to the author and publisher! This was a very cool read. As a young woman who is currently pursuing her MBA and plans on working in corporate America, and as a woman who hopes to be a mom someday, all these statistics and stories were heartbreaking and eye opening at the same time. I enjoyed the writing style and found everything easy to follow. I will be sharing this with friends!