The Good Girls Revolt

The Good Girls Revolt chronicles a landmark 1970 gender discrimination lawsuit filed by female Newsweek employees against their employer. Lynn Povich, one of the original plaintiffs, documents the systematic discrimination that confined women to researcher and secretary roles while men occupied all writing and editing positions. The book details the clandestine organizing efforts of dozens of young female Newsweek employees who risked their careers to challenge workplace inequality. Povich reconstructs the atmosphere of 1960s newsrooms through interviews with participants and examination of historical records. The narrative follows the legal battle as it intersects with the surging women's movement and traces its ripple effects through American journalism. As a participant-observer, Povich provides an insider's perspective on this pivotal moment in the fight for workplace equality. The Good Girls Revolt stands as both historical record and cautionary tale about the ongoing struggle for gender equity in professional spaces. Through its focus on one workplace uprising, the book illuminates broader patterns of institutional discrimination and the collective action required to combat it.

Readers found this account of the 1970 Newsweek discrimination lawsuit compelling but uneven in its execution. Many noted it provides important documentation of workplace gender discrimination and serves as a reminder of recent history. Readers appreciated: - First-hand perspective from someone who was there - Connection to modern workplace issues - Details about the mechanics of organizing the lawsuit - Profiles of the key women involved Common criticisms: - Jumps between time periods in a confusing way - Too much focus on recent events/Mad Men references - Writing style can be dry and academic - Some key figures get limited coverage Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (3,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (280+ ratings) One reader noted: "Important story but reads like a long newspaper article." Another said: "Would have preferred more personal stories from the women involved rather than statistics and corporate details."

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🔍 The lawsuit described in the book was filed on March 16, 1970—the same day Newsweek published its cover story about the women's movement, creating a powerful irony. 📚 Lynn Povich herself was one of the original plaintiffs in the lawsuit and later became Newsweek's first female senior editor in 1975. 👥 The brave actions of these 46 Newsweek women inspired similar lawsuits at other major publications, including Time, Reader's Digest, and The New York Times. 📺 The book inspired Amazon's series "Good Girls Revolt" (2016), though the show was canceled after one season despite positive reviews. ⚖️ The Newsweek women were represented by Eleanor Holmes Norton, who later became a prominent civil rights leader and the first woman to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.