Women Breaking Through examines the "stories" of 300 women who have somehow overcome all manner of barriers in a work environment to achieve success in their career.  Swiss duly acknowledges that many of these barriers are unintentional. In this instance, the problem presumably is one of ignorance. OK, but we all know that there are many in the work environment (intimidated females as well as self-serving males) who are well aware of these barriers and either tolerate them or defend them. In this instance, the problem is one of attitude. Whatever, many barriers are illegal; the remaining barriers are dumb (because precious human assets are underutilized) and/or punitive (because someone feels threatened). The 300 women who are "on the leading edge of change" are to be commended for their achievement. But let's not lose sight of a key point: Most (if not all) of them should not have had to experience the resistance, at times the hostility and perhaps even the abuse, they did. 

This book (published in 1996) is based on the results of a survey in which 300 women participated. When "Taking Stock", Swiss shares several facts about women at work, at least in 1996:

• The salary gap mirrors the gender gap.
• Moving women into the managerial pipeline has done little to advance deserving ones into senior management.
• Gender, not talent, is often the deciding factor in who is offered committee leadership or the golden client.
• Progressive policies on paper are meaningless in the absence of support from top management and line supervisors.
• Sexual harassment continues to be a silent partner in maintaining an unsupportive work environment for women.
• Gender bias, not parenting responsibilities, is the factor most likely to slow a woman's advancement.

At some point, hopefully very soon, there will no longer be a need for a book such as this. But our society is nowhere near that point yet. There have been so many important technological  "break-throughs" in the business world just within the past few years, most notably the WWW. If we can develop highly sophisticated machines, why can't we also develop highly sophisticated people for whom the behavior Swiss and others have cited is unconscionable? It's time.

Order Women Breaking Through here. 

Find the full list of Robert Morris's Business Nuggets featured by Eastbook.com here.

 

Women Breaking Through 1996 Hardcover Edition	Women Breaking Through 1996 Hardcover Edition
Women Breaking Through 1997 Paperback Edition	Women Breaking Through 1997 Paperback Edition

 

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