The Fix
See the truth behind what’s holding women back at work
Women are told that if they want to succeed at work, they need to fix themselves. Lean in, don’t lean out. Be a fighter and a rule-breaker to be a #Girlboss. Stop being nice and start acting like a man.
But now Michelle King – gender equality expert and Head of The Global Innovation Coalition for Change at UN Women – is calling BS on books and programs that tell women they need to change to be successful. She has seen over and over again, through her partnerships with major Fortune 500 companies like HP, SAP, and General Electric and her work with women nationwide, that the tired advice of fixing women isn’t fixing anything. The truth is that workplaces are gendered – they were designed by men for men – and unless you’re Don Draper, there are hidden barriers in place that are holding you back.
"A welcome addition to the growing chorus of voices calling out the system Rather than individual women for workplace gender inequity... this Thoughtful, Thorough, often enraging look at a broken system delivers a resounding and memorable message: 'Women are not the problem."
Based on King’s more than 16 years of research and exclusive interviews with major companies and thought leaders, ‘THE FIX: Overcome the Invisible Barriers that are Holding Women Back at Work’ reveals the truth behind what’s holding women back at work and provides a clear roadmap for women to navigate the flawed workplace to find success on their own terms. King’s research reveals that the one thing holds women back above all else is gender denial. By denying gender inequality, we’re preventing women and minorities from getting to that corner office.
In this book, King reveals the hidden factors that women encounter at work every day, but don’t even see. Because of ingrained gender stereotypes, women who speak up or assert themselves are seen as pushy. Women who ask for a pay raise are difficult. Women who spend hours networking don’t get the same career benefits as men do. Unlike men, women cannot just go to work, do their jobs and expect to advance. Fixing women isn’t the answer – women aren’t broken. Women are capable, innovative, team players, and exceptional leaders. Women deserve workplaces that support, enable and encourage them to succeed.
By elucidating the hidden barriers that are holding women back at all stages of their career, THE FIX: Overcome the Invisible Barriers that are Holding Women Back at Work provides women – and male allies – with a clear set of take-aways to thrive despite the inherently gendered workplace, and a plan to bring about change from within.
Gender equality is not about women, and it is not about men – it is about making workplaces work for everyone. Together, we can fix work, not women.
An award-winning bestseller
2020 Axiom Business Book Awards:
Silver medal
The Axiom Business Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary business books and their creators, with the understanding that business people are an information-hungry segment of the population, eager to learn about great new books that will inspire them and help them improve their careers and businesses.
2020 Non-Obvious Book Award: Longlist Selection
The Non-Obvious Book Awards reviews hundreds of non-fiction books every year to select the most compelling reads. They curate a Longlist of their favorite books of the year – selected from hundreds of book submissions, then narrow down the choices to a Shortlist of the 15 top books for that year. Winners are then chosen based on importance, originality, readability, usefulness, and shareability.
Porchlight: #1 Business Bestseller December 2020
THE FIX remained a Porchlight business bestseller for three consecutive months in late 2020, rising to the top of the chart in December.
Hammers home the point that employers are responsible for creating safe workplaces for women and for protecting them from not just harassment but also other forms of discrimination and threats to advancement.
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Watch michelle
Invisible Barriers Women Face at Work
Michelle King, author of The Fix: Overcome the Invisible Barriers That Are Holding Women Back at Work, joined Cheddar to discuss the barriers women are still facing at work.
Know the Barriers Women and Minorities Face at Work, Says Inclusion Expert
Michelle King, director of inclusion at Netflix Inc. and author of “The Fix: Overcome the Invisible Barriers That Are Holding Women Back at Work,” discusses how companies can improve gender equality in workplaces. She speaks with Emily Chang and Paul Allen on “Bloomberg Markets.” (Source: Bloomberg)
How do we "fix" the workplace to work for women?
Watch the recorded live stream of Michelle’s interview on LinkedIn’s “Working Together” with host, Caroline Fairchild.
