Managing Lives: Corporate Women and Social Change - Softcover

Much has been written about the purported differences between female and male psychology, and even the notion of a separate lower-paid, low-pressure "Mommy Track" in corporations. But what have been the actual experiences of women in the business world, pursuing careers formerly filled by men? How have women viewed their personal and professional development? This book addresses these issues. Making extensive use of interviews, Sue J.M. Freeman interweaves testimony from 40 women in management positions who speak candidly about their lives, the challenges of their careers, and their changing conceptions of themselves. Examining both individual change and corporate adaptation, Freeman argues that the scarcity of women in top exectuive positions is due not to women's contrary psychological needs or personal shortcomings, but rather to structural obstacles and persistent, subtle discrimination. She makes an original contribution to the study of female psychological development, the nature of corporations, and the ramifications of social change.