( 5 reviews )
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( 3 of 3 found this review helpful ) Posted: Nov 19 2005
I picked this book up out of curiosity. This book far exceeds the fact that Augusta has a "Men-Only" membership policy. This book is very eye opening in large amount of sexual discrimination that is in the corporate world. Martha Burk does extensive research to back up her claims that we still live in a world that accepts and condones discrimination. It wasn't until the 1990's that the racial barrier was removed from golf with the Shoal Creek Country Club, which was a white only club. When they were due to host the Masters and it became public that it was a white only club, Shoal Creek Country Club then decided to admit others who were not white. Once again that incident happened in 1990. Burk goes on to discuss general topics of pay differientials, women in levels of business, and a variety of other gender based issues. One topic she really discusses is how exclusionary clubs work in business. For example, if all of the top male leaders are in a say mens only club or organization, they automatically exclude any female leadership of that company when they gather. As we all know much business is done while socializing. If you are limiting your employees in how they can socialize you create barriers. I really enjoyed reading this book. Another great book on gender differences would be "Women Don't Ask". This book discusses several reasons why women do not make as much money as men do. There are differences between genders and how they are treated in the workplace. Burk does an excellent job of pointing out how exclusionary practices hurt some of the workforce.
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( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Sep 22 2005
Martha Burk writes an extraordinary book about an extraordinary event - how a simple written request of an "old school" golf club to "let women in" turned into a national debate -- a debate that exposed the stubborn underbelly of sexism in the world of golf and in the world of corporate executives, who refused to challenge the "men only" rule at Augusta, the site of America's Master's Tournament. Burk tells the story with enormous credibility, humility, and wit, warning us all, that even in 2005, women better have some "fight" left in us and we might let out a hearty "fore" before we claim we have won the equity battle. A great read - go Martha!
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( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jun 24 2005
Martha Burk's book is easy to read and enjoyable. She makes a clear case for the reality of sex discrimination in a way that is not difficult to understand. The arguement of the book is straigh foward enough that even people who have never been intrested, or believed, in women's rights can appreciate this book while gaining insights into the realities of women's lives in corporate America from a woman who has been there and lived it. "Cult of Power" will not leave you with the feeling of having been lectured to from the one and only correct point of view.
