Take a read through this review: "INVIGORATING—Even Empowering"
Screwnomics
Rickey Gard Diamond
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
Print ISBN: 9781631523182 $19.95
E-ISBN: 9781631523199 $ 9.95
One might expect a serious political discussion packed with dense figures and demanding perspectives from Screwnomics: How Our Economy Works Against Women and Real Ways to Make Lasting Change; but while this work is filled with information, it's by no means inaccessible to the average woman without a degree in economics. It pairs personal stories with graphic illustrations and easily-understood economic definitions to create a survey that assumes no prior knowledge of either economics or women's history.
The first strength to note is that Screwnomics doesn't alienate male readers who may be curious to learn how economic forces are stacked against women. Introductory chapters outline these forces in a way either male and female readers can readily understand, examining how masculine forces have measured and defined money and success in such a way as to stack the deck against female participants in economic and business prosperity.
The coverage is specifically tailored to prove accessible to economically disadvantaged women, but it doesn't 'dumb down' its technical considerations and it maintains a clear perspective on what it will and won't do: "Screwnomics isn't intended to help you manage your personal finances, but it will explain the larger assumptions of a system that makes managing impossible for so many. Screwnomics is my word for the unspoken but widely applied economic theory that women should always work for less, or better, for free...I translate economic history, terms, and definitions that especially disadvantage women, here and around the world. I introduce you to new, countering ideas and solutions that don't require a PhD, and may even inspire you to broach an economic subject with your friends. As designed now, economic theory devalues family, love, young children, music and art, nature's splendiferous beauty, and the faithful devotions, the loyal commitments, that make any life worthwhile. A glut of fiscal verbiage can put you to sleep, or convince you it's too hard to comprehend or too boring. Yet its rules have made money the central story of our time."
By blending judgments, values, and personal insights into this story of economic processes, Rickey Gard Diamond succeeds in turning a potentially dull subject into an invigorating—even empowering—read, connecting the subject of money to the playing field of personal goals, human values, and aspirations that go beyond fair wages and amassing wealth at all costs.
Another satisfying surprise is the discussion of moral and ethical hazards involved in making money. Most economics primers omit these important guideposts to personal achievement or any mention of toxic people and their threat to economic pursuits and personal satisfaction.
The specifics of money management, federal and business control processes, and why women are inherently at a consistent disadvantage are clearly explained and paired with facts that are clearly explained: "Everything about the dollar trumpets the United States, proclaiming our nation's money. It is, but the devil is in the details. Our national eagle and the Great Seal, that giant eyeball atop a pyramid, have both been on the dollar since Benjamin Franklin helped design the original bills. Only when you look at the very top in the border do you see what's really going on in small type, the words Federal Reserve Note."
The result is a powerfully accessible women's economics primer that covers not just economics, but the reasons why women consistently struggle to get ahead in a male-dominated world of money, why they are often stymied in their attempts to educate themselves about the subject, and how to overcome many of these barriers to understanding to not just gain a semblance of equality, but an understanding of the force and role of money in their lives.
Very, very highly recommended for the average woman who seeks a better understanding of how the American financial system works, why it's so often stacked against females, and what to do about it.
—Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Donovan's Bookshelf of Recommended Reads
