Women Money Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality

Summary

A narrative history of women fighting for financial freedom and the social and political hurdles that have kept them from equality

For centuries, women were denied equal access to money and the freedom and power that came with it. Even well into the twentieth century, women could not take out loans or open bank accounts without a man’s permission. They could be fined for getting married or pregnant, and they could be kept from certain roles and paid less than men for equal work.

In Women Money Power, business journalist Josie Cox tells the story of women’s fight for freedom and economic equality. This is an inspirational account of brave pioneers who took on social mores and the law, including the “Rosies,” who filled industrial jobs and helped win World War II, the heiress whose fortune helped create the birth control pill, the brassy banker who broke into the boys’ club of the New York Stock Exchange, and the namesake of landmark equal-pay legislation who refused to accept discrimination.

But as any woman can tell you, the battle for equality—for money and power—is far from over. Cox delves deep into the challenges women face today and the culture and systems that hold them back. This is a fascinating narrative account of progress, women’s lives, and the work that remains to be done.