“A beautiful book that provides genuine encouragement and inspiration. Vivid portrait photography and accompanying essays declare that all work is women’s work.” –Kirkus Reviews (starred review) In this stunning collection, award-winning photographer Chris Crisman documents the women who pioneered work in fields that have long been considered the provinces of men–with accompanying interviews … men–with accompanying interviews on how these inspiring women have always paved their own ways.
Today, young girls are told they can do–and be–anything they want when they grow up. Yet the unique challenges that women face in the workplace, whether in the boardroom or the barnyard, have never been more publicly discussed and scrutinized. With Women’s Work, Crisman pairs his award-winning, striking portrait photography of women on the job with poignant, powerful interviews of his subjects: women who have carved out unique places for themselves in a workforce often dominated by men, and often dominated by men who have told them no. Through their stories, we see not only the ins and outs of their daily work, but the emotional and physical labors of the jobs they love. Women’s Work is a necessary snapshot of how far we’ve come and where we’re heading next–their stories are an inspiration as well as a call to action for future generations of women at work.
Women’s Work features more than sixty beautiful photographs, including Alison Goldblum, contractor; Anna Valer Clark, ranch owner; Ayah Bdeir, CEO of littleBits; Beth Beverly, taxidermist; Carla Hall, blacksmith; Cherise Van Hooser, funeral director; Jordan Ainsworth, gold miner; Magen Lowe, correctional officer; Mindy Gabriel, firefighter; Nancy Poli, pig farmer; Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne, Founders of Georgetown Cupcake; Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential biographer; Sophi Davis, cowgirl; Abingdon Welch, pilot; Christy Wilhelmi, beekeeper; Connie Chang, chemical engineer; Danielle Perez, comedienne; Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo; Lisa Calvo, oyster farmer; Mia Anstine, outdoor guide; Meejin Yoon, architect; Yoky Matsuoka, a tech VP at Google; and many more.
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This is a book I would love to see in every library in the country. It is filled with the stories of women across the country and the jobs they are doing. Many of them are non-traditional, some not so much, but they all tell the story of how the woman got into the field, what she enjoys, and some of the challenges she has faced.
As we move more toward a workplace that is one that seeks the best employee for the job, regardless of race, religion, or sex, this can become a valuable tool for the young women of today. Whether the individual reader wants to read the entire book, or research a particular job or jobs, that opportunity is here. The stories are short, and highlight some of the highs and lows of the job, as well as some of the hurdles the women have had to overcome. Regardless of the different roadblocks most of the women encountered, they all speak of having a passion for their chosen work, a determination to make it a success, and the supporting factors that helped them achieve their goals.
There are several recurring themes that unite the women, including a willingness to work hard, a recognition that often they have had to work harder to “prove” their capability, and a development of a thick outer skin to ward off the criticism they have encountered. While these issues are not exclusive to women, nor to women in these particular jobs, the women’s responses here offer some ideas in terms of how a woman, or a man for that matter, can go about achieving their goals in the face of sometimes daunting criticism.
In addition to the information and the inspiration offered here, the stories are accompanied by some stellar portraiture photography. These photographs are crisp and offer a high contrast that seems to bring the individual, who is typically involved in a task related to their job, into sharp focus. The photos show a wide range of women in terms of age, size, ethnicity, and physical attributes, and manages to turn the focus of the viewer to the woman as a worker and an achiever.
It isn’t necessary to read the book cover to cover, although I found it fascinating to do so. This book would also serve well as a “coffee table book” or as a book you might find in a pediatrician or youth counselor’s office, anywhere a young person might pick it up and be inspired to follow her dreams. While it does exclusively highlight women, there is information here that could also be useful to young men and boys. Not only does it talk about determination and goal setting, but it talks about some of the descrimination these women have encountered as they have pursued their place in the working world. It could be helpful to those who are on the outside looking at these and other women and girls as they pursue their goals within the world of work. After all, you can’t change your perspective and your prejudices if you don’t know you have them.
My thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.