In Women Money Power, financial journalist Josie Cox delivers a sweeping narrative account of women's fight for financial independence, the legal and cultural barriers that hold them back, and the ongoing struggle to close the gender pay gap and address other economic inequalities.
"A bold, fascinating, and hugely important book. Unforgettable." —Jonathan Eig, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of King: A Life
"A necessary and riveting read that is…also a pleasure." —Francesca Donner, former gender director at the New York Times
For centuries, women were denied equal access to money and the freedom and power that came with it. They were restricted from owning property or transacting in real estate. Even well into the 20th century, women could not take out their own loans or own bank accounts without their husband's permission.
They could be fired for getting married or pregnant, and if they still had a job, they could be kept from certain roles, restricted from working longer hours, and paid less than men for equal work. It was a raw deal, and women weren't happy with it. So they pushed back.
Women Money Power brings to life the brave pioneers who challenged discrimination in the courts, the boardroom, and society:
- The "Rosies" who transformed industrial manufacturing and the labor force during World War II.
- The visionary heiress who covertly funded the development of the birth control pill.
- The barrier-breaking investor who integrated the boys' club of the New York Stock Exchange.
- The fearless activist whose battle against wage discrimination helped inspire landmark equal pay legislation.
Unpacking both historical breakthroughs and contemporary obstacles—from the glass ceiling to systemic corporate bias—Josie Cox provides an urgent, deeply researched guide to where women's economic equality stands today, how we got here, and what it will take to achieve true equity.
Praise
“In this compelling, deftly researched book, Josie Cox reminds us how far we’ve progressed toward equality, and what’s stalling the progress. Every person alive today needs to know and understand the struggles women have had in the workforce for generations. ”
—Lisa Napoli, author of Susan, Linda, Nina & Cokie
“A bold, fascinating, and hugely important book. Josie Cox gives us the story of the fight for economic equality—past, present, and future—with deep research and riveting prose. Unforgettable.”
—Jonathan Eig, author of King: A Life and The Birth of the Pill
“Josie Cox delivers a deeply researched story of how generations of workplace promises failed, and why progress is not only infuriatingly slow but often sabotaged and squandered. It's a must-read for women looking up at glass ceilings or peering over glass cliffs —and for any man who claims to support them.”
—Liz Hoffman, business and finance editor at Semafor and author of Crash Landing: The Inside Story of
“Josie Cox’s Women Money Power should be required reading. For all genders. It's really two books in one: both an analysis of how far we’ve come in our fight against gender inequality as well as a scathing critique of how far we still have to go. As Cox brilliantly maps out, point by point, we are failing women, again and again, and she has the receipts, rigor, and storytelling chops to prove it.”
—Deborah Copaken, New York Times bestselling author of Ladyparts: A Memoir
“Women Money Power is the fascinating story of the hidden figures who have fought for women's economic equality. Josie Cox’s masterful storytelling style draws you into the gripping narratives of these female pioneers. There is much to be learned from their efforts while we continue to strive for full gender equality today. This book is a must-read.”
—Amy Diehl, PhD, author of Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women B
“In Women Money Power Josie Cox unearths the highs and lows in the century-long fight for gender equality through the stories of the women who led these battles at home, at work, and in the legal system. We are introduced to countless trailblazers, only a few who became household names, who challenged the legal and social forces that kept—and still keep—women from gaining financial power and control over one’s body, one’s family, and one’s career. And it is in these stories of the past, that we, both women and men, can find hope and strength to continue to challenge the social, political, and organizational systems that are standing in the way of gender equality at home, at work, and in society at large.”
—Danna Greenberg, Walter H. Carpenter Professor of Organizational Behavior, Babson College
“Josie Cox takes us deep into the stories of women in the past whose chutzpah and determination continue to make a difference in our lives today. From the real story of Rosie the Riveter to the socialite who smuggled birth control to the States from Europe, she weaves personal narrative and political history into a compelling and damning story of the ongoing struggle for economic and social equality.”
—Lisa Selin Davis, author of Tomboy: The Surprising History and Future of Girls Who Dare to Be Differ
“We are at a pivotal moment in our history where women have 50 percent of the wealth, more education, and significant careers and yet we still have blind spots where we are held back. Women Money Power looks at who has been pushing the envelope and what has worked, and what changes still need to be made for us to get to equity. It’s a new day and we need to understand power and money if we are going to get there!”
—Julie Castro Adams, founder and CEO of How Women Lead
“With passion, insight, and impressive research, Josie Cox guides us through a fascinating historical tour of U.S. women’s economic lives. A welcome contribution to our understanding of persistent gender inequalities.”
—Viviana A. Zelizer, Lloyd Cotsen ’50 Professor of Sociology at Princeton University and author of Ec
“Buckle up for a journey through the ups and downs, highs and lows, wins and losses of women’s economic and social empowerment in the U.S. Going back decades, Cox artfully chronicles both the events and the actions of individuals—some better known, some less so—which have changed the course of history for women. Each chapter offers a superb framework from which to understand the plight of women in the U.S. today. A necessary and riveting read that is, despite its subject matter, also a pleasure.”
—Francesca Donner, former gender director at the New York Times
