First published 2005
Federal employment laws claim to protect women but actually restrict their economic opportunities. Strassel examines how government oversight of benefits, childcare, taxes, healthcare, education, retirement, and social security reflects outdated assumptions about family structures. These paternalistic regulations prevent employers and employees from creating flexible arrangements that would benefit both parties. The author argues that marketplace solutions work better than government mandates when people have freedom to negotiate. She proposes reducing federal interference to expand choices for working women. The book presents specific policy changes that would empower individuals rather than constraining them through bureaucratic rules. Published with The Manhattan Institute and The National Center for Policy Analysis, this work challenges readers to reconsider whether protective legislation actually helps or hinders women's advancement in the modern economy.
Genres: business, feminism, politics, economics, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-issues
232 pages · Hardcover · Rowman & Littlefield Publishers