Women vs Capitalism

Description

Although the #MeToo movement has been hugely important, empowerment of the mind will not achieve full power for women while there remains economic inequality. Leading economist Vicky Pryce urgently calls for feminists to focus attention on this pressing issue: the pay gap, the glass ceiling, and the obstacles to women working at all. She shows that gender equality is good for business and economies, but the free market is wired to perpetuate inequality; only government intervention can empower women, with proper support and reward for their work.

From the gendered threat of robot labour to the lack of women in economics itself, Women vs Capitalism is a bold and timely look at an uncomfortable truth: we will not achieve equality for women without radical changes to contemporary capitalism.

Reviews

‘This book shines a much-needed light on discrimination that still holds too many women back – and what we can do about it. [For] policymakers, directors and women wondering what they can do to fight back, this is a fantastic book.’ — The Observer

‘A depressing indictment of modern capitalism, this book is a passionate argument for a way ahead.’ — Prospect

‘Pryce marshals an impressive array of up-to-date statistics and interesting anecdotes to demonstrate the ways in which capitalism is failing women.’ — Literary Review

‘[Women vs Capitalism is] a powerful manifesto for our times, relentlessly piling up the evidence that women get a raw deal in the economy.’ — Irish Times

‘In [Women vs Capitalism, Vicky Pryce] maintains that the free market is failing women and that correcting this is a win-win for everyone—and also critical to our economic prosperity.’ — Sunday Times

‘The points Pryce makes are relevant for all economies trying to make the best use of limited resources … Highly recommended.’ — CHOICE

‘[Vicky Pryce has] brought together a lot of data to make her case [and she] addresses head on some of the pale excuses where critics seek to blame women themselves for the issues. … What is powerful [is] her central tenet that women’s economic empowerment is critical to market efficiency and that we need government intervention.’ — Financial Times Adviser

‘Superb. An authoritative manual for the men upholding capitalism while holding back women and the economy, and a guidebook for women who want to change the world.’ — Ann Pettifor, author of The Production of Money

‘Vicky Pryce is one of Britain’s most distinguished economic commentators. Her impassioned criticism and rich analysis argue powerfully that women’s economic equality is both a moral question, and good economic sense. A clear-sighted call for change.’ — Rachel Reeves MP

‘Gender equality is an ongoing struggle fought on several fronts. The economic case presented here by Vicky Pryce has never been made so well or so vigorously.’ — Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, author, columnist and broadcaster

‘A long overdue dissection of the vital subject of gender equality, through Vicky Pryce’s forensic economic lens.’ — Polly Toynbee, The Guardian

‘Vicky Pryce lends an eloquent voice and a forensic analysis to the growing worldwide realisation that capitalism needs to change.’ — Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Level

‘A shocking, lucid account of how capitalism holds women back. If we are all to have a future, government policy must fundamentally change. Now.’ — Danny Dorling, University of Oxford; author of All That Is Solid and Peak Inequality

Author(s)

Vicky Pryce is Chief Economics Adviser at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, and former joint head of the UK Government Economic Service. She was also director-general for economics at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. Her books include Greekonomics; Prisonomics; and It's the Economy, Stupid.