... the coronavirus outbreak has made Scott’s message more urgent than ever ... Scott isn’t above showing us her anger and frustration, usually in the form of bracingly barbed asides, which aren’t aimed exclusively at the usual suspects...But she isn’t all rage. Above all, Scott is practical and pragmatic. She has little time for hand-wringers of any variety, preferring to focus on briskly Getting Things Done ... a breath of fresh, if infuriating, air. In a world where so many of us stick safely to criticising the status quo, it’s heartening to read someone willing to offer viable solutions. The question is, will any of us listen?
What [Scott] brings to this relatively well-worn argument is a global perspective, drawing on often fascinating vignettes from the African and Bangladeshi villages in which she has worked, but also a rallying cry against blaming women for things that are not their fault ... If you hadn’t already guessed, this is no light lockdown read; with its pages of graphs, it falls more into the category of what Andrea Dworkin famously called feminism, but not the fun kind. But those who have had more than enough 'fun' feminist books – frothy you-go-girl stuff by celebrity authors, or compendiums of inspiring women down the ages – may well find it a tonic ... For here is the antithesis of what’s often sweepingly described as Lean In feminism, or the argument that women wanting to succeed in corporate life should just push a little harder, mastering the secrets of how to pass in a male-dominated world ... The advantage of the non-western lens she brings to this is that it can be easier to see palpable injustice when it is taken to extremes – in societies where women are still not able to own property in their own right, choose their marriage partners or refuse sex – than when it is closer to home ... Not every chapter bridges the two worlds quite so successfully, however. The absorbing human detail that makes the African sections come to life is thinner on the ground in the western sections. There is not much light and shade to be found, either, with little exploration of the ways in which British working mothers’ lives might have shifted over the last two decades – or indeed the way in which younger men’s working lives and attitudes have evolved ... Yet there’s something curiously exhilarating all the same about the brisk, no-nonsense anger bubbling beneath the surface of the text.
Researcher and activist Scott examines how male financial domination holds back economic growth, assembling a breathtaking array of data and case studies from settings as disparate as rural Ugandan schools and the board rooms of venture capitalists ... As the book’s title signals, Scott sometimes falls into the trap of gender essentialism, and she gives little consideration to the impact of intersectional oppression, particularly in developed nations. Despite these flaws, The Double X Economy is a thorough, authoritative rebuke to the sexist exclusion of women from financial systems across the world.
... powerful stories ... While I appreciate Scott’s frustrations, the double X economy is unlikely to change how economists think; the concept encompasses every aspect of life where women are disadvantaged relative to men: not only in their access to jobs, property, capital, credit and markets but also because of their 'limited mobility, reproductive vulnerability and the ever-present threat of violence.' Unlike the information and gig economies, to which Scott compares it, the double X economy isn’t contained; it’s anything that limits women in any way. This quickly becomes a story of everything .... There are certainly many factors that limit women’s economic participation and life potential. And Scott identifies some of the most important ones, including domestic violence, child care, the gender pay gap and the gender divide in business ownership, through engaging and persuasive case studies showing how women’s work is both devalued and yet foundational to the measured economy ... Yet I wish The Double X Economy had focused less on trying to convince me of the need for a new catchphrase for a problem that’s been around forever, and more on concrete ideas about how to change the minds of those with the power to make policies that affect women and girls. Scott’s narrative makes clear that the whole population, not just half, matters for the global economy. As the world teeters toward recession, I’m wondering whether now we might finally correct this enduring injustice.
In this in-depth, highly revealing analysis, the author dives headfirst into the multiple layers of hindrance that prohibit women from obtaining equal status with men ... Throughout, Scott backs her arguments with hard data and numerous charts and graphs, showing unequivocally that women are not being treated fairly regarding nearly every aspect of the global economy. Fortunately, Scott shares plenty of easily implementable ideas to change the situation—e.g., using women’s purchasing power to boycott companies that refuse to provide equal pay. The author’s assessment of the current situation is bleak, but with her suggestions, the future could be brighter for everyone, not just women ... A precise, eye-opening account that shows what needs to change to make the world a more equitable environment for all.
... remarkably comprehensive ... Closing with practical tips for making improvements on the global, national, and individual levels, Scott delivers a persuasive call to action enriched by hard data and personal experience. Feminists, economists, and policy makers should consider this impressive and impassioned account required reading.
