"Feminism, when it truly achieves it's goals, will crack through the most basic structures of our society."-Shulamith Firestone
I did not start reading this book on any expectation that it would give me a glimpse into what it is to live as a COO of Facebook. I started reading it because one review claimed that it was (in the author's own words) a feminist manifesto. I realized that it must have been hard for the author to type those two words and face the stigma of forever being labeled a feminist, especially when you are a public figure and are constantly featured in the limelight. Sandberg herself admits these fears, openly and fearlessly. There is something extremely admirable in such an act. She further admits that she was hesitant as a young woman to openly admit to being a feminist. It is a sad fact that most women AND men are extremely shy and reluctant to admit to being feminists because of the stigma and the stereotypical image attached to it.
Sandberg has done a beautiful job of explaining why such fears exist. In my own words, they have been put there as a passive form of victim -blaming. Silence the speakers, in fact outcast them. Label or target all feminists as man-hating, crazy, harassed women. Well, I have news for you. We are not. In fact, most of the feminists I have talked to are extremely loving, funny, kind, well-meaning, smart and generous individuals and I am not just talking about the women. Feminists are just human in demanding their basic human rights. Sandberg's book is an extremely honest, heart-wrenching read. Honest because she says it like it is. Heart-wrenching, because we still have to speak up for these basic rights. That even the talented, smart, funny Sheryl Sandberg took such a long time to speak up only says volumes of the stifling culture that patriarchy has so easily used to shut us up. We can only hope that this book would encourage more women to aspire to hold leadership positions and not leave their jobs so early in their careers. It's high time everyone realized that women are 50% of the population and are capable of improving societies and economies.
Photo Credit
Cover of Time
http://www.businessinsider.com/sheryl-sandberg-is-on-the-cover-of-time-2013-3
I did not start reading this book on any expectation that it would give me a glimpse into what it is to live as a COO of Facebook. I started reading it because one review claimed that it was (in the author's own words) a feminist manifesto. I realized that it must have been hard for the author to type those two words and face the stigma of forever being labeled a feminist, especially when you are a public figure and are constantly featured in the limelight. Sandberg herself admits these fears, openly and fearlessly. There is something extremely admirable in such an act. She further admits that she was hesitant as a young woman to openly admit to being a feminist. It is a sad fact that most women AND men are extremely shy and reluctant to admit to being feminists because of the stigma and the stereotypical image attached to it.
Sandberg has done a beautiful job of explaining why such fears exist. In my own words, they have been put there as a passive form of victim -blaming. Silence the speakers, in fact outcast them. Label or target all feminists as man-hating, crazy, harassed women. Well, I have news for you. We are not. In fact, most of the feminists I have talked to are extremely loving, funny, kind, well-meaning, smart and generous individuals and I am not just talking about the women. Feminists are just human in demanding their basic human rights. Sandberg's book is an extremely honest, heart-wrenching read. Honest because she says it like it is. Heart-wrenching, because we still have to speak up for these basic rights. That even the talented, smart, funny Sheryl Sandberg took such a long time to speak up only says volumes of the stifling culture that patriarchy has so easily used to shut us up. We can only hope that this book would encourage more women to aspire to hold leadership positions and not leave their jobs so early in their careers. It's high time everyone realized that women are 50% of the population and are capable of improving societies and economies.
Photo Credit
Cover of Time
http://www.businessinsider.com/sheryl-sandberg-is-on-the-cover-of-time-2013-3
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