Just Not That Likable: The Price All Women Pay for Gender Bias

Senator Romero's book "Just Not That Likable" explores why we prefer "Howard" to "Heidi" in leadership roles and offers solutions to overcome gender bias in the workplace. She highlights the link between success and likability for women leaders and exposes the "double bind" they face, where they are expected to exhibit strength but penalized for being "abrasive" or masculine. The book calls for promoting practices and policies that dismantle this double bind to create more opportunities for women.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 23 December 2021
Publisher: Permuted Press

Senator Romero offers a comprehensive analysis of why we prefer "Howard" to "Heidi" in leadership positions and what we can do to combat this gender bias. Gloria Romero, a former California Senate Majority Leader and Professor Emeritus of Psychology, has shattered the glass ceiling in a powerful takedown of gender bias in the workplace and the societal costs associated with the persistent "likability factor" that persists in the workplace. She exposes the connection between success and likability that 21st-century women leaders face in politics and the workplace.

In a book that is both accessible and enlightening, Senator Romero stands as a woman who is unafraid to break down barriers for women. As the first female Majority Leader of the upper house in California's State Legislature, she authored significant reform laws in public education, criminal justice, governmental ethics, and transparency.

Just Not That Likable is the story of a trailblazer who recognized that while the 20th-century sexism of unequal pay for equal work had been outlawed and anti-discrimination laws had become common, there was still a hidden likability penalty and the so-called "double bind" applied to successful women. The book features the most comprehensive review to date of what is known about the "double bind" faced by women executives and leaders: they are expected to exhibit strength and lead, but are penalized as being "abrasive" or exhibiting characteristics stereotyped as being masculine. Drawing on her own life experiences, Senator Romero's journey leads her to the realization that when women smash through the persisting ceiling, the shards cut too deep and too often. These practices and behaviors shut down opportunities for our daughters, sisters, and mothers.

Senator Romero's insights and solutions offer a roadmap for breaking down gender biases in the workplace and creating a more equitable and inclusive environment for all. Her book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the challenges faced by women in leadership positions and work towards creating a more equal and prosperous future for all.

Weight: 364g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642939804