For any woman who has grappled with competing identities over the years, spars book is a refreshing acknowledgement of the impossible expectations women carry around with them, starting in adolescence and extending into old age. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection, barnard college president debora spar argues that women have come very far in the struggle for power but now face the tyranny of hyp. It is cultural history at its best, and a road map for the future. Barnard college president debora spar on her new book wonder women january 16, 2014 the alma and joseph gildenhorn book series will feature debora spar, president of barnard college, discussing her book wonder women. She was also one of the first female professors at harvard business school, and is currently the president of barnard college. But while spar s book has been heralded as the followup to lean in, shes actually attempting a. Debora spar on womens impossible quest for perfection.
No, you dont, because she doesnt exist, argues barnard college president debora l. In this wise, often funny, always human, and smartly conceived book, spar asks. Sep 16, 20 im terry gross back with debora spar, author of the new book wonder women. Sparfarrar, straus and giroux these ads created, perhaps unknowingly, a really seductive mythology of what life was supposed to be like for women in. Spar, is the latest offering from a highprofile woman with advice for her educated, middle and upperclass sisters on the. Wonder women is the book id give my daughter as a guide to navigating the challenges of being a woman in twentyfirstcentury america. Wonder women by deborah spar book club discussion questions. Raised after the tumult of the 1960s, she presumed th. Drawing on extensive research, knowledge shes gleaned as president of barnard college where she says she observes young women striving for perfection every day as well as her own experience as a. Spar is the current senior associate dean of harvard business school online and former president of barnard college, a liberal arts college for women affiliated with columbia university. It is a list of oughts, musts, and shoulds put forth in an unforgiving tone that demands control and perfection through selfdegradation and disgust. Sheryl sandberg, coo of facebook and author of the bestselling lean in debora l. Debora spar, president of barnard college, speaks during an interview in new york, u. Are there impulses or beliefs in the ana creed that play out destructively in areas beyond physical appearance.
Five years after taking the helm at barnard, spar has introduced herself as a major player in feminism. In it, she calls for a new feminist agenda, though she is quick to admit that. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection, spar uses her complicated relationship with feminism to expose the conflictingprofessional and personal standards faced by todays women. And what will it take to get true equality for good. Armed with reams of new research, she details how women struggled for power and instead got stuck in an endless quest for perfection. The book is written by debora spar, the president of barnard college, and in it, she takes stock of where women find themselves in america today. Strong feelings make for good discussion, and that was certainly the case here. Wow, said the guide, i think that was just debora spar. In the interview, spar discusses her decision to get a breast reduction, a story which she shares in her new book about the ridiculous expectations many women face today. In this groundbreaking and compulsively readable book, spar explores how american womens lives have and have not changed over the past fifty years.
Sex, power, and the quest for perfection by spar, debora l isbn. Sex, power, and the quest for perfectiona fresh, wise, original book she asks why, a half century after the publication of betty friedans the feminine mystique. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Spar tackles some of these issues in her forthcoming book the virgin and the plow. Debora spar, barnard president, says women cant have it. Sep 17, 20 now she is the president of barnard college, arguably the most important allwomens college in the united states. One of the first women professors at harvard business school and now president of barnard college, spar has reaped feminisms rewards. Wonder women by debora l spar, 9780374298753, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
The myth of the wonder woman is holding women back the. Raised after the tumult of the 60s, she presumed that the gender war was over. In it, she calls for a new feminist agenda, though she is quick to admit that she wasnt interested in feminism when she. Debora spar, the president of barnard college and former professor at harvard business school is, much like sandberg and slaughter, an incredibly successful woman who spent much of her professional life in competitive, hardcharging workplaces. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection, barnard college president debora spar argues that women have come very far. Debora spar is the mba class of 1952 professor of business administration at harvard business school where she teaches the firstyear strategy course. In this groundbreaking and compulsively readable book, spar explores how american women s lives have and have not changed over the past fifty years. Throughout wonder women, spar builds the argument that the need for control and perfection is at the root of the chaos and dissatisfaction in women s lives.
Sex, power and the quest for perfection by debora spar. Spar, president of barnard college and author spar, president of barnard college and the author of wonder women. Wonder women will make many women feel deeply understood. Wonder women gives us an important voice in an increasingly heated debate. She does this, admittedly, from a privileged perch, but so much of what she recounts, laments and celebrates rings very true for me. Morning joe sits down with debora spar, author of wonder women. Sep 15, 20 debora spar is the president of barnard college and the mother of three children, and yet in her spare time she wrote a book about how women are trying to do far too much at once, using. Armed with reams of new research, she details how women struggled for power and. Spar is the president of barnard college, a womensundergraduate college affiliated with.
Its been a long time since a book annoyed me as much as wonder women. Debora spar, barnard president, says women cant have it all. Morning joe sits down with debora spar, author of wonder. Spar fifty years after the equal pay act, why are women still living in a mans world. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection, she explores what it actually means to be a female leader today compared with. Sex, power and the quest for perfection farrar, straus and giroux debora l. Debora spar is the president of barnard college and the mother of three children, and yet in her spare time she wrote a book about how women are trying to do far too much at once, using herself as a prime case study. Debora spar, president of barnard college, talked about her book, wonder women. Jan 31, 2014 wonder women is the book id give my daughter as a guide to navigating the challenges of being a woman in twentyfirstcentury america. Debora spar examines how womens lives have, and have not, changed since the 1960s. In the prologue to wonder woman, the author freely admits that she is writing from the perspective of a white, uppermiddleclass, welleducated, happily married, employed mother of three children. Wonder women sex, power, and the quest for perfection by.
You know that girl who has it allperfect job, relationship, body. Debora spar s book is a great read for a young woman thinking about how to find balance in a variety of areas of her life. Spectator is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization. Sep 26, 20 one of the first women professors at harvard business school and now president of barnard college, spar has reaped feminisms rewards. Shes the president of the womens college, barnard, and is a former. Barnard college president debora spars new book explores the image of the hyperperfect female leader. Aug 14, 20 you know that girl who has it allperfect job, relationship, body. Debora spar, author of wonder women many think of the feminist movement as a thing of the past, but debora spar says the battle isnt won yet. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection, debora spar persuasively argues that despite all the gains women have made in the past 30 years, they simply cant have it all. How might this book have been different written from another socioeconomic or cultural perspective.
The feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s opened professional doors for women, making previously unimaginable choices available. Jan 14, 2014 does the wonder woman ceo really exist. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection, barnard college president debora spar challenges. Yet she also is a selfdescribed reluctant feminist who admits that she has spent most of her life steering clear of. Her current research focuses on issues of gender and technology, and the interplay between technological change and broader social structures. Finding satisfaction in second best the new york times. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Debora spar, bestselling author of wonder women, to visit.
Sex, power, and the quest for perfection, by debora l. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection a fresh, wise, original book she asks why, a half century after the publication of betty friedans the feminine mystique, do women still feel stuck. We thought we could glide into the new era with babies, board seats, and husbands in tow, she writes. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection by debora spar. In her new book wonder women, barnard president debora spar argues that the triumphs of secondwave feminists have created a new problem for women. Spar reveals her most intimate history, yet stands back to see her whole generationand minein perspective. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection, which will be published on tuesday, ms. On monday, september 16, students gathered to speak with barnard president debora spar about the themes in her new book, wonder women. Spar tacklesand dispelsthe myth of perfection with intelligence and humor. For any woman who has grappled with competing identities over the years, spar s book is a refreshing acknowledgement of the impossible expectations women carry around with them, starting in adolescence and extending into old age. Barnard college president debora spar on her new book. She was among the youngest women to earn tenure at the harvard business school.
Spar, is the latest offering from a highprofile woman with advice for her educated, middle and upperclass sisters on. Are there impulses or beliefs in the ana creed that play out destructively in areas beyond physical. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection by debora l. A huge part of what makes barnard college such a powerhouse, despite its relatively small size about 2,400 enrolled. Spar sarah crichton we took the struggles and the victories of feminism and interpreted them somehow as a pathway to. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection and its main message can be best described by a female specter named charlie. Both deeply personal and statistically rich, wonder women is spar s story and the story of our culture. She also sees that theres more for women to fight for. Spar, in a book that will be published in september, urges women to quit trying to be perfect and understand they can show up at power breakfasts with baby spit on their lapels.
Sex, power, and the quest for perfectiona fresh, wise, original book she asks why, a half century after the publication of betty friedans the feminine mystique, do women still feel stuck. We use advertising revenue to subsidize the cost of providing journalism to the campus, and to fund over fifty. Spar is acutely aware that its time to change course. As president of barnard, she was also an academic dean within columbia university. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection, in which she discusses the triumphs of the womens liberation movement. It was chosen by one of the members of our feminist book club, so i persevered. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection and its main message can. Fifty years after the equal pay act, why are women still living in a mans world. Sex, power, and the quest for perfection sarah crichton books. She is, in many ways, an exemplar of the notion that women can have it all, yet for years she eschewed feminism as the province of hairylegged cranks. Nov 11, 20 it was a new york times piece about debora spar, president of barnard college and author of wonder women. Now she is the president of barnard college, arguably the most important allwomens college in the united states.
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