Career and Family: Women’s Century-Long Journey Toward Equity

Recommended by Karen Dynan, Professor of the Practice of Economics; Professor of the Practice of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

My Nobel Prize-winning colleague Claudia Goldin does a masterful job explaining the complex and shifting factors underlying gender disparities in the workplace over the past century. The idea that “greedy” jobs have become significant obstacles for college-educated women who are also grappling with family-care responsibilities will resonate with many. Ultimately, Goldin’s thorough diagnosis offers a hopeful outlook, pointing to changes in government policy, employer practices, and social norms that could create a more equitable future for women.