behind every successful man

1
130 Book Reviews The history of the Women’s League is intimately connected with and shaped by the political events of the time. Pioneers for Peace gives an historical account of the circumstances surrounding the issues of war and peace; by concentrating, however, on WILPF’s efforts to establish a peaceful international order it provides an alternative perspective on historical events to the one we are normally accustomed to. The book gives a clear indication of the difhculties women have to face when pursuing policies opposed to international power politics. We also learn about the unavoidable struggles within an international organization and the necessary adaptions and clarifications of aims and strategies. Their unsuccessful struggles to prevent the two World Wars led WILPF to consider possible underlying causes of war. They broadened their concern to include issues such as human rights, minority questions and development, while, at the same time, concentrating on e&ctive relief measures for the victims of war. The guiding principle of their work was the realization that only free individuals, assured of the basic necessities of life, could create a free and peaceful world. Concerned with putting their ideals into practice they initiated activities in the field of peace education. The book’s documentary character leaves little space for political analysis and lacks a critical investigation into the possibilities and limitations of peace strategies such as pacifism or non-violence. In order to reach an interpretation of the detailed recordings ofevents, decisions and actions, one has to read between the lines, relying on one’s own political understanding. However, as an honest record of WILPF’s successes and failures over the past 65 years Pioneersfor Peace indicates that war is not a natural disaster which we have to face passively. The very fact that there is a history of international actions for peace instigated by a concerned group of women is an encouragement and stimulus for all of us who are disturbed about the present situation. In making the actions of the Women’s International League known to a wider audience, the book has achieved its aims. (I thank Stafanie Duczek for her help in translating this review.) ANNA GABRIELE MALKOWSKY BEHIND EVERY SUCC~FUL MANby Martha R. Fowlkes, Columbia University Press, New York, 1980. Price $29.90. This book is about 40 women in the U.S.A. It describes graphically the ways in which their everyday existence is structured, the manner in which their time, energy and enthusiasm is channelled, and the extent of their own autonomy and choice. The title, of course, gives clue to the findings; they have not been chosen because they themselves are pursuing autonomous careers, but because they are all married to men who are moderately successful in their professional lives, and for whom, as the book clearly substantiates, the existence of a ‘wife’ has at all points been a valuable resource. This defines the study, and the findings which Fowlkes relates with admirable clarity and depth extend existing work rather than adding anything substantially new, apart from a wealth of fascinating detail concerning the lifestyles of the two occupational groups. Although the particular organization of these career patterns in the U.S.A. may be peculiar to that country, the general premises and findings would seem to be generally valid-the professional career is a ‘greedy’ consumer of time and commitment, both by the occupant and family. The section on the socialization processes, which are perceived as influential in a woman’s choice of spouse is valuable and sad-both wives of doctors and academics 6nd that, despite some apparently significant differences in the possibility of freedom of action within marriage, in the final resort the message from each group was the same: ‘they tell a common story of lives lived inside a role which has all too often closed them off from themselves, from the world, from their husbands’ (p. 193). The conclusion that the pattern of the successful career, with its emphasis on the total absorption of daily and life cycle time, reinforces the sociological understanding of how women are handicapped in trying to achieve successful careers themselves. Thus, as Fowlkes acknowledges, this study needs complementing by a study of successful women-and their husbands! Fowlkes completes her valuable study thus: ‘Male professional participation is propped up at every turn by the roles that women play as wives of professional men, and we may well ask who and what structures will prop up either the members of the two career family or the single professional woman in the absence of a career-free wife at home . . It is no wonder that so many women who are now trying to travel the road to professional success so often claim, with a hollcw laugh, that what they really need is a good wife’ (p. 201). ANNE GOLDTHORPE

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Page 1: Behind every successful man

130 Book Reviews

The history of the Women’s League is intimately connected with and shaped by the political events of the time. Pioneers for Peace gives an historical account of the circumstances surrounding the issues of war and peace; by concentrating, however, on WILPF’s efforts to establish a peaceful international order it provides an alternative perspective on historical events to the one we are normally accustomed to.

The book gives a clear indication of the difhculties women have to face when pursuing policies opposed to international power politics. We also learn about the unavoidable struggles within an international organization and the necessary adaptions and clarifications of aims and strategies.

Their unsuccessful struggles to prevent the two World Wars led WILPF to consider possible underlying causes of war. They broadened their concern to include issues such as human rights, minority questions and development, while, at the same time, concentrating on e&ctive relief measures for the victims of war. The guiding principle of their work was the realization that only free individuals, assured of the basic necessities of life, could create a free and peaceful world. Concerned with putting their ideals into practice they initiated activities in the field of peace education.

The book’s documentary character leaves little space for political analysis and lacks a critical investigation into the possibilities and limitations of peace strategies such as pacifism or non-violence. In order to reach an interpretation of the detailed recordings ofevents, decisions and actions, one has to read between the lines, relying on one’s own political understanding. However, as an honest record of WILPF’s successes and failures over the past 65 years Pioneersfor Peace indicates that war is not a natural disaster which we have to face passively.

The very fact that there is a history of international actions for peace instigated by a concerned group of women is an encouragement and stimulus for all of us who are disturbed about the present situation.

In making the actions of the Women’s International League known to a wider audience, the book has achieved its aims.

(I thank Stafanie Duczek for her help in translating this review.)

ANNA GABRIELE MALKOWSKY

BEHIND EVERY SUCC~FUL MAN by Martha R. Fowlkes, Columbia University Press, New York, 1980. Price $29.90.

This book is about 40 women in the U.S.A. It describes graphically the ways in which their everyday existence is structured, the manner in which their time, energy and enthusiasm is channelled, and the extent of their own autonomy and choice. The title, of course, gives clue to the findings; they have not been chosen because they themselves are pursuing autonomous careers, but because they are all married to men who are moderately successful in their professional lives, and for whom, as the book clearly substantiates, the existence of a ‘wife’ has at all points been a valuable resource. This defines the study, and the findings which Fowlkes relates with admirable clarity and depth extend existing work rather than adding anything substantially new, apart from a wealth of fascinating detail concerning the lifestyles of the two occupational groups. Although the particular organization of these career patterns in the U.S.A. may be peculiar to that country, the general premises and findings would seem to be generally valid-the professional career is a ‘greedy’ consumer of time and commitment, both by the occupant and family.

The section on the socialization processes, which are perceived as influential in a woman’s choice of spouse is valuable and sad-both wives of doctors and academics 6nd that, despite some apparently significant differences in the possibility of freedom of action within marriage, in the final resort the message from each group was the same:

‘they tell a common story of lives lived inside a role which has all too often closed them off from themselves, from the world, from their husbands’ (p. 193).

The conclusion that the pattern of the successful career, with its emphasis on the total absorption of daily and life cycle time, reinforces the sociological understanding of how women are handicapped in trying to achieve successful careers themselves. Thus, as Fowlkes acknowledges, this study needs complementing by a study of successful women-and their husbands!

Fowlkes completes her valuable study thus:

‘Male professional participation is propped up at every turn by the roles that women play as wives of professional men, and we may well ask who and what structures will prop up either the members of the two career family or the single professional woman in the absence of a career-free wife at home . . It is no wonder that so many women who are now trying to travel the road to professional success so often claim, with a hollcw laugh, that what they really need is a good wife’ (p. 201).

ANNE GOLDTHORPE