Lean – In: Book review.

Vivek Shah 112 Group 4

About the book:

Lean In is by a successful woman who wants to help other women succeed in business. It does
not cover every aspect of gender inequality, nor does it pretend to. As the subtitle sets out, it
talks about 'women, work, and the will to lead', and it does so with authority, insight and
research.
There has been some criticism of Sandberg for speaking from a position of moneyed privilege and
addressing only well-educated, equally fortunate women. Sandberg herself addresses this, right
at the beginning. She acknowledges the position that she writes from, but also explains that she
aims to offer advice that would have been useful to her at any point of her career and that will
help women 'lean in' no matter what their ambition, or what stage of life they are at.

Lean In addresses both the external and internal barriers that hold women back in their
professional careers and Sandberg cites numerous studies to back up her observations and
suggestions. She explains the cultural assumptions and messages that are embedded from a
young age that cause women to shy away from ambition and leadership.
Equally, she explains how expectations around the traditional male role means that the work
men do in child rearing and in the home, is not valued as highly as professional achievements.
Sandberg reviews the evidence that women are less likely to aspire to attain leadership positions.
She makes the point that women internalize social cues that they should not aspire to
professional success where as career ambition is expected of men. On the personal side, we need
to push women more to seek leadership roles. On the structural side, we need to address the
institutional factors that inhibit female success such as lack of childcare services.

While people often describe career advancement as climbing a ladder, she describes how her
career was more like climbing up a jungle gym - there are many paths to advancement.  She
explains that how for women, there is no ladder- it’s a jungle gym and they have to grab the best
opportunity when it arrives. Another point that she makes is that it is important to take risks (and
potentially change jobs and enter at a lower level). Women are often less likely to make risky
career moves due to societal pressure.

Sandberg gives numerous personal experiences, as well as tales of people she knows in order to
keep her arguments and suggestions grounded in the real world.  Of course, Sandberg does not
suggest that simply pointing barriers out will make it easy to overcome them, but openly talking
about them and acknowledging their destructive capabilities is certainly the first step towards
change. She provides reassurance that you won't immediately get fired for asking for help, or be
viewed as lazy for controlling your hours in order to manage your home life. This book provides
support.

Reminding us of reality

 Powerful women are likeable.

 Advocating for yourself is the only way to get noticed. Hard work and diligence alone
won't do it.
  It's impossible to get everyone to like you, and trying will hold you back.

 Honesty is the best policy. Speak up and give feedback and ask for it in return.

 Feminist is not a dirty word, it is, as Sandberg puts it, 'a distinguished label.'

A manifesto for men and women alike

Everyone, men and women, managers through to interns, should read this book. It is not fiercely
academic or intimidatingly intellectual. Instead it is grown up, powerful, human and extremely
important. I know I will be returning to it for reassurance and reminders for years to come. It
communicates what has been felt in silence for years and it does so with wit and clarity. It is good
business writing.

Team’s perspective on the book:

Sandberg says in an ideal world half of all our organisations and country would be run by women.
Though that ideal world is far from reality, the change has to start from now on. There have been
a lot of talks, studies and books about equality and feminism. But the reality is , unless we change
our perspective, we will not be able to bring about the change we want. Sheryl acknowledges
that not all women have the opportunity or ambition to make the choices that she had, some still
lack the basic human rights around the world. She thus wants to address the current generation
of women who are studying, to bring about this change for their own better future and the
generations to come. For the men, it shows how lucky we’ve been. In Warren Buffet’s words we
have been lucky to compete with only half the population. The problem of gender inequality, the
cultural and social barriers will only be torn down when we men change our perspectives and
finally become equally capable as the other half of the population.