Unfinished Business

About the Author

Anne-Marie Slaughter is the president and CEO of New America and the Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University. She served as the dean of Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and was appointed the first female director of policy planning at the U.S. State Department by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Slaughter is a renowned foreign policy analyst, legal and international relations scholar, and public commentator. Her extensive career and personal experiences uniquely position her to address the complex issues of work, family, and gender equality.

Main Idea

Unfinished Business argues that the notion of "having it all"—a successful career and a fulfilling family life—is currently unattainable for women due to societal structures and attitudes. Slaughter emphasizes that achieving true gender equality requires valuing caregiving as much as competition and calls for a cultural shift to address these issues. The book challenges pervasive half-truths and offers practical solutions to create a more equitable world for both men and women.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Deceptive Half-Truths About Women, Men, and the Workplace
   • The Half-Truths About Women
   • The Half-Truths About Men
   • The Half-Truths About the Workplace
3. Care and Competition
   • The Motherhood Penalty
   • The Competitive Mystique
   • The Next Phase of the Women's Movement is a Men's Movement
4. Four Action Steps
   • Changing the Vocabulary
   • Planning a Career with Intervals
   • The Changing World of Work
   • Public Policy
5. Conclusion

Deceptive Half-Truths About Women, Men, and the Workplace

Anne-Marie Slaughter identifies and deconstructs several half-truths that perpetuate the myth that women can easily balance career and family life. These half-truths not only mislead women but also create unrealistic expectations and systemic barriers that hinder true gender equality.

The Half-Truths About Women

Slaughter challenges three pervasive half-truths about women: