Combining fascinating research with revealing commentary from hundreds of women, this groundbreaking book explores the personal and societal reason...
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Jun 21, 2010
Audrey
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Women have been guided by a society where they have been accustomed to wait for opportunities such as salary raises or more flexible hours. In contrast, men have generally lived in a non-restrictive world, where it can be argued that more is available to them. This causes them to feel more confident about asking for raises or negotiating flexible hours and doing it with a higher 'target' in mind than women. Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide introduces the societal barriers surro
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Sep 17, 2010
Julie
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This book has certainly been making me think a hell of a lot, it's made me more observant of the subtle -- or non-subtle I had totally missed until now because they seem so "normal" -- ways in which girls and boys are treated and the expectations that are put upon them from early on, and how people (of both genders) react to things differently depending on the gender of the person who said or did it.
I really enjoyed all the studies described all along the book, as well as the More...
I really enjoyed all the studies described all along the book, as well as the More...
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Jun 30, 2010
Amanda
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This book was great. It actually gives concrete tools and knowledge that you can use. I've read lots of good books about womens pay disparity and the need for women to promote themselves better at work, but many books over-rely on research and case studies to prove their points, yet don't go as far as to offer action steps.
The longer I'm in the professional world the more I see the need for this kind of book, and I'd highly recommend this one to any woman in management OR at the star More...
The longer I'm in the professional world the more I see the need for this kind of book, and I'd highly recommend this one to any woman in management OR at the star More...
Mar 16, 2010
Angela
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Women Don't Ask starts off strong, making a powerful case that women's large wage discrepancies can be at least partly explained by their failure to negotiate better salaries and benefits for themselves, failure to ask for what they want, and consistent undervaluation of themselves. These differences don't arise out of nowhere, we learn; from a young age girls are discouraged from asserting their own desires and instructed to value relationships over promoting themselves. Unfortunately for women
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May 26, 2010
Mackenzie
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Read it. Definitely read it. I handed my copy off to another woman I know within 12 hours of finishing reading it, because you absolutely must read it. If you're a woman, you work with women, you manage women, you are managed by a woman, you have a wife, or you have a daughter: READ IT!
The statistics and research are very interesting and demonstrate the high impact of how we're socialised from a young age and how that can limit or expand successes throughout our lives. Throughout More...
The statistics and research are very interesting and demonstrate the high impact of how we're socialised from a young age and how that can limit or expand successes throughout our lives. Throughout More...
Dec 28, 2011
Greyskylark
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Whether you're a women or not, whether you're interested in feminism or not, this book is key. Babcock gives us a look at all the subtle and not-so-subtle ways that female people are encouraged to doubt themselves, stay quiet, and be as unobtrusive as possible. Babcock focuses on how these dynamics continue well into adulthood, creating a society where women make less money than men. This situation arises in part because women have been taught to never negotiate their salaries. While this bo
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Oct 14, 2011
Mark
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As business books go, it was okay, and in the final analysis, I'm glad I read it. It did give me some broader perspectives on women in the workplace, and a new and DATA SUPPORTED viewpoint on behavioral traits in men and women. If you are a business leader who has, expects to have, or wants to have women on your team and to support them as effectively as you can, it begins with understanding. Women Don't Ask provides information, information supports understanding, and that can't help but mak
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Aug 08, 2011
Great book for women looking ahead to important negotiations. Biggest message I took away was importance of researching what other people (men and women) make in the same level/job. Then, negotiate for the upper range of that. Be willing to hear out the other side. Explain your wants/needs and the reasons for them. Have high expectations and you'll always come away more than if you settle. Thanks to Associate Vice Provost Joan Brett of Arizona State U for recommending this book to the Preparing
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Oct 02, 2011
Erin
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This is an excellent book that should probably be read by all women as they walk out the door of college in search of a "first job," but it's not too late to add this to the reading list for my peer group out there on job 5 or 10. I attended a conference a few years ago that brought this book to my attention and I completely credit it with giving me the confidence to ask for (and receive) better pay, better hours, and a much more enjoyable job situation. You can't get what you want if
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Oct 19, 2010
Michelle
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There are a lot of cool anecdotes of behavioral experiments showing incredible differences between men and women's attitudes toward negotiation, and even more paraphrased interviews from women detailing their experiences and feelings--these were interesting too, but it got tiresome when I had already accepted their arguments and just wanted to get to the negotiation tips part, which didn't come until nearly three-quarters of the way in.
It basically boils down to:
1. Know that More...
It basically boils down to:
1. Know that More...
Feb 03, 2009
Shinynickel
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Everyone should read this book.
For women, this book shows empirically some of the effects of gender socialization, how that socialization creates pay inequality, and what you can do about it.
For men, this book is a great window into some of the cultural dynamics that may be invisible to you, that women have to deal with every day. Also, if you are male but feel like you have trouble being assertive, you should also read it and sub yourself in for the women that Babcock s More...
For women, this book shows empirically some of the effects of gender socialization, how that socialization creates pay inequality, and what you can do about it.
For men, this book is a great window into some of the cultural dynamics that may be invisible to you, that women have to deal with every day. Also, if you are male but feel like you have trouble being assertive, you should also read it and sub yourself in for the women that Babcock s More...
Sep 22, 2007
Stephanie
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Really interesting read on women & power in negotiating/the workplace.
As a woman who isn't afraid to ask for things that I feel are rightly deserved (a promotion for working hard, a pay raise because I'm making less than the going rate for whatever it is that I'm doing), I was kind of shocked that so many of the example women in this book were so passive. But then again, I've been there - I think it's hard work learning how to ask for what you need, and negotiate for things as a wom More...
As a woman who isn't afraid to ask for things that I feel are rightly deserved (a promotion for working hard, a pay raise because I'm making less than the going rate for whatever it is that I'm doing), I was kind of shocked that so many of the example women in this book were so passive. But then again, I've been there - I think it's hard work learning how to ask for what you need, and negotiate for things as a wom More...
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Feb 09, 2009
Kristina
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Overall, I was disappointed with this book. A lot of the attitude was so anti-male I had a hard time relating to the material. Particularly the last chapter on "domestic" negotiations, which basically implies all men sleep around and infect women with STDs so women need to "negotiate" using condoms. From an academic perspective, it was well-researched and explored a good deal of landmark studies cited related to the topic of negotiation, and that's why it gets the 2 stars.
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Dec 17, 2009
Candis
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Much like reading Gloria Steinem's "My Life as a Playboy Bunny," at times, this book totally irritated me - but I am so, so, so glad I read it. I can look back on decisions I have made in both my personal life and career that I would totally do differently if given the chance - I realize that in the past, I NEVER negotiated. In the past, I have just taken what I was given. For example, I once fell in love with a BEAUTIFUL, 18th-century French dressing table that cost an exorbitant amou
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Apr 17, 2011
Nicole
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I loved this book. It's a must read for women in business. Women can be too scared to bargain for what we deserve in business.
Behavior that can lead a man to be seen as ambitious can brand a woman as too pushy and aggressive. This book reminds us to assess and strengthen our bargaining power as well as prepare and practice before negotiations.
Behavior that can lead a man to be seen as ambitious can brand a woman as too pushy and aggressive. This book reminds us to assess and strengthen our bargaining power as well as prepare and practice before negotiations.
Dec 27, 2008
Michaela
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Apparently women keep hitting that glass ceiling because they don't ask for what they want. This is probably mostly true. Unfortunately book doesn't deal with what happens when you ask for what you want and still don't get it. Or why women have to ask for things that the men get without asking. Still worth a read though.
Mar 19, 2009
Mary
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Five stars, all the way!!! A must read for everyone, not just women. It is amazing the number of things women complain they don't get, that they never bothered to ask for. A great lesson in negotiating, even if all you learn is to ask. Excellent book. I gave one to each of my daughters.
Jun 28, 2009
Layla
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I'm at the beginning of this book but so far I'm finding it very exciting. The basic idea is that women generally don't negotiate in situations in which they can. For example, a large percentage of women don't negotiate their starting salaries, and starting salaries are often on the low end because the employer expects that people will negotiate. Something like 60% of men do negotiate their starting salary. Researchers have calculated that over the course of a career negotiating your startin
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Dec 16, 2007
Kasandra
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Excellent. Elucidates what I'm sure many women already knew, expected, or suspected with statistics and case studies that were often disheartening but important. Definitely eye-opening, illuminationg our society and profoundly different norms for men vs. women where negotiation is concerned. Made me wish I had read it earlier or had access to this information far sooner, both in my career and in my personal life. Not only should this be read by all working women, the men who work with them an
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Jun 02, 2011
Melissa
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Everyone needs to read this book. It begins with why you need to ask for things, then continues on to why women don't ask. Then recognizing the bad associations towards women who are assertive, the book then gives advice on how to ask for and negotiate for things as a woman.
Oct 15, 2010
Patricia
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An eye-opener. Failing to negotiate costs an individual (many women, but also some men) on many levels and throughout their lives. And the current generation of college graduates hasn't shaken the old ways.
Based on research by Carnegie-Mellon professor, and well-written.
Based on research by Carnegie-Mellon professor, and well-written.
Jun 11, 2009
Liza
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This book is a great book for women in business. This book stresses that women often shy away from negotiation for fear of straining work relationships. This book offers tips on how to negotiate and not be afraid to ask for the resources you need to better do your job.
Dec 02, 2010
Zana
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This is one of those nonfiction books that I read going "yes! that's true! how come I never noticed that?" on three out of every four pages. It's highly readable, and I'd recommend it to any woman out there who ever has to negotiate a salary or raise (which I did today, to mixed success).
Nov 26, 2011
Joyce
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The research is a bit slow to read, but the message is strong. We want to think this is about the gender gap in the 60's, but this is about negotiation, mostly in the work place , today and how women get less.
Mar 21, 2009
CJ
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A difficult book to read. I tend to think of myself as assertive and confident - then I noticed all the patterns I have courtesy of this book. Of course I want people to like me and I don't want them to think that I'm pushy or controlling. The end result is, I don't get what I want and then I'm unsatisfied (at best) or resentful and angry (at worst). I have found in my life that if I just open my mouth and ask for something, even if the answer is no, the world doesn't end and people don't wa
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Mar 01, 2010
Read by ACRL Member of the Week Erika Linke. Learn more about Erika on the ACRL Insider blog.
Jun 29, 2009
Elizabeth
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A few pages into this book I thought, "Okay, I understand your thesis, what do I need 200 pages for?" but the authors actually provide a lot of interesting material (which I will talk more about later).
Mar 24, 2011
Katharine
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I've only gotten through the first chapter of this book and already I can tell it's going to be life changing. EVERYone should read this.
This is an excellent book for anyone to help them view negotiations in a different light. It is incredibly interesting and I truly believe can change lives in terms of helping everyone get what they want and need out of life more effectively and positively.
Where it's lacking is in the 'how to negotiate' section. While it gives a lot of informatio More...
This is an excellent book for anyone to help them view negotiations in a different light. It is incredibly interesting and I truly believe can change lives in terms of helping everyone get what they want and need out of life more effectively and positively.
Where it's lacking is in the 'how to negotiate' section. While it gives a lot of informatio More...
Oct 31, 2008
Lissette
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This was a very interesting book. It's premises is that basically women don't speak out the way they should to get what they want in life, and then there's those that do ask for what they want, but they don't do it right, mainly because they're too aggressive in their method and too "masculine" in a society that still views women as somewhat submissive. I think this book is a great step in helping to close the gender gap in the workplace, as well as the wage gap, but I still feel the
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Jul 21, 2009
Ulyana
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This book was a great eye opener for me, helped me explain some of my behavior, reasons for it, and remedies. It was a good read, as well.
