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The Authority Gap

Why Women Are Still Taken Less Seriously than Men, and What We Can Do About It

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The Authority Gap

By: Mary Ann Sieghart
Narrated by: Mary Ann Sieghart
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin. 

Imagine living in a world in which you were routinely patronised by women.

Imagine having your views ignored or your expertise frequently challenged by them.

Imagine trying to speak up in a meeting, only to be talked over by female colleagues.

Imagine subordinates resisting you as a boss, merely because you're a man.

Imagine being trolled by women on social media for daring to express an opinion.

Imagine people always addressing the woman you are with before you.

Now imagine a world in which the reverse of this is true.

The Authority Gap provides a startling perspective on the unseen bias at work in our everyday lives, to reveal the scale of the gap that still persists between men and women. Marshalling a wealth of data with precision and insight, and including interviews with pioneering women such as Baroness Hale, Mary Beard and Bernadine Evaristo, this is a fresh feminist take on how to address and counteract systemic sexism in ways that benefit us all.

©2021 Mary Ann Sieghart (P)2021 Penguin Audio Gender Studies History & Culture Social Sciences Technology & Society Technology Thought-Provoking Inspiring Discrimination

Critic reviews

"A brilliant manifesto explaining why women are still so underestimated and overlooked in today's world, but how we can also be hopeful for change." (Philippa Perry)

"Hugely exciting." (Emily Maitlis)
All stars
Most relevant
A truly insightful and well researched piece of work
I was so inspired by the audio book I’m buying the physical book so I can make notes and decide some sharing of knowledge with my clients, friends and family
Thank you Mary Ann

Wonderful - I finally have answers & peace of mind

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This is a fantastic book and is one that all young women and men should read. Most women will recognise the themes in this book but it helpfully describes how we can all be better which will improve women's experience in the future.

a must read

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The Authority Gap exists, as this "deeply researched, profoundly thoughtful" (says Andrew Marr) book proves in irrefutably sourced chapters on the why, how and what-can-we-do-about-it. Although it is packed with evidence, it is never boring. It is spiced with anecdotes and interviews with women both powerful (think Janet Yellen; Mary Beard; Bernadine Evaristo; Baroness Hale - presidents of countries and huge corporations, arts administrators - all sorts) and less famous women, who all have a story to tell of the disadvantages they have faced because of the way we skew the world against them. Women do this as well as men - it is usually unconscious, as a result of the way our brains absorb and replicate the way the world has been in our short-circuited heuristic reactions and decisions. It doesn't have to be like this, and Mary Ann Sieghart ends with 140 ideas and tips as to how we can all - men and women - start to redress the balance. Beautifully read in measured, pleasing, animated tones by this very experienced broadcaster.

Fascinating, engaging, enraging, read by author.

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Great data and recent references. Easy to listen and follow. Great for both sexes to learn from.

A must listen for both sexes

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Well researched, articulated and read. Made me think about my own unconscious biases as a woman. Should be more widely shared and read!

Insightful

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