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Original poster

Why is no one talking about 'lean In'?

33 replies

princessx · 17/07/2013 00:06

I've just read 'lean In' by Sheryl Sandberg and came on mumsnet to have a good old discussion about it. Alright, I may have missed the boat as it was published in March. But a search has brought up almost nothing plus no mention in any of the book threads.

New York Magazine review said:
'Call it lean in, call it consciousness raising, call it whatever you want. When was the last time anybody talked this much about a women's place in the world, period?'

Given that the book is talking about how to make motherhood and a career work for you, you'd think mumsnet would be the prime place to discuss it.

Has anyone read it? If so, what do you think?

OP posts:
SinisterSal · 17/07/2013 23:16

Yes I was being sarky, unneccessarily so, sorry for confusion.

Original poster
princessx · 17/07/2013 12:50

Oh thanks for tip, will advance search now.

slug I took the point of the book to be how to take control of your career and marriage to make it work for you. It wasn't completely motivating, but did raise some points to think about

OP posts:
Original poster
princessx · 17/07/2013 12:45

I'm actually reading the mrs moneypenny book at the moment!

I thought lean in was good because it is picking up on something that hasn't been discussed before: the idea of leaning back when you should be leaning into your career. I did this unwittingly in the 4 years leading up to the birth of dd, and now 6 yrs later I haven't progressed at all in my career.

She seems overloaded by quoting data and studies, but some were interesting. Like no one envying the too women's careers. I was really career focused until I saw the top women at work, and thought no way do I want to be like them. They were so harried and stressed.

I thought the chapter in likability a bit odd and demotivating. My current company has a female CEO and the majority of senior managers are women, so that chapter didn't make much sense to me.

I totally agree with the point about making your partner a real partner. That's where I've seen things work best for my friends. (Pity I'm going through a big divorce)

I didn't see the evening standard article, but I'll see if I can find it online.

OP posts:
TheDoctrineOfAllan · 17/07/2013 12:28

OP, have you advance searched Sheryl Sandberg? There was a stickied discussion when the book came put.

slug · 17/07/2013 11:53

One of the reasons I am a Facebook refusnik is because it is one of the most anti women virtual spaces on the web. The place abounds with VAW and rape apologists.

I simply cannot take Sheryl Sandberg seriously. What on earth is the point of 'leaning in' in order to get to the head of an organisation that apologetically normalises violence against women?

Furzella · 17/07/2013 10:36

I loved it. And had a rubbish sense of humour failure about the 'lean out' piece in the Evening Standard the other day. I thought the section about ensuring your partner is actively supportive and engaged is so true. Although she's ultra alpha, she seemed more normal and more recognisably my sort of female than, say, Mrs Moneypenny in her book a couple of years ago.

BuffytheReasonableFeminist · 17/07/2013 10:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SinisterSal · 17/07/2013 01:35

prob cause the fwr section of mumsnet is a bit crap, full of moaners?

em, no, but there has been some discussion about it,though maybe not a thread of its own. It comes up from time to time as part of a broader discussion.