A Uterus Is a Feature, Not a Bug

The Working Woman's Guide to Overthrowing the Patriarchy

By: Sarah Lacy

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

A rally cry for working mothers everywhere that demolishes the ""distracted, emotional, weak"" stereotype and definitively shows that these professionals are more focused, decisive, and stronger than any other force.

Working mothers aren’t a liability. They are assets you—and every manager and executive—want in your company, in your investment portfolio, and in your corner.

There is copious academic research showing the benefits of working mothers on families and the benefits to companies who give women longer and more flexible parental leave. There are even findings that demonstrate women with multiple children actually perform better at work than those with none or one.

Yet despite this concrete proof that working mothers are a lucrative asset, they still face the ""Maternal Wall""—widespread unconscious bias about their abilities, contributions, and commitment. Nearly eighty percent of women are less likely to be hired if they have children—and are half as likely to be promoted. Mothers earn an average $11,000 less in salary and are held to higher punctuality and performance standards. Forty percent of Silicon Valley women said they felt the need to speak less about their family to be taken more seriously. Many have been told that having a second child would cost them a promotion.

Fortunately, this prejudice is slowly giving way to new attitudes, thanks to more women starting their own businesses, and companies like Netflix, Facebook, Apple, and Google implementing more parent-friendly policies. But the most important barrier to change isn’t about men. Women must rethink the way they see themselves after giving birth. As entrepreneur Sarah Lacy makes clear in this cogent, persuasive analysis and clarion cry, the strongest, most lucrative, and most ambitious time of a woman’s career may easily be after she sees a plus sign on a pregnancy test.

The tools you need to have a successful career

Would you consider the audio edition of A Uterus Is a Feature, Not a Bug to be better than the print version?

I started reading this book after finishing Brotopia and feeling down about the future of women in tech. Although well researched, Brotopia does not highlight what successful women in tech look like. As a tech founder of a growing tech company myself, I knew that was only a partial story. So I was hungry to find more information.

Sarah Lacy's book was exactly what I needed. She opens up to tell you her story. How she got to where she is, not all roses as Lacy herself faced a bunch of sexism at multiple stages. But the book also talks about how she over come those challenges and embraced who she was to succeed. She also gives powerful examples of around the world were women are leading the way.

Lacy's book is empowering and eye opening. Would def recommend it.

Should be mandatory reading

“United we mom”

This should be mandatory reading for all women AND men, boys & girls.

Liked - worth reading to get perspective on global working women’s issues

I am not a mom - but much of the book has a heavy lens, tho Lacy is explicit about saying all women should have choice (as much as men) in all dimensions of their lives.

The personal story with Uber was a bit lengthy - but overall appreciate to 2 parts of the book (her personal encounters and feelings with being successful and being a mom) > and what other situations are for women (mothers or not) in other parts like Iceland and China.

Pretty quick read and I love the voice reading.

Impactful enough to share with 2 guy friends for insight into a women’s working world.

Truth about our situation as working moms.

Still so timely in 2024 as in the year it came out. We have work to do and this is a great reminder. Good for men and women to read.

A fantastic book for listening AND reading

A no-holds-barred look at what it means to be a woman in the 21st Century. Sarah Lacey is brutally honest in her highs and lows in being a working woman in the computer age. It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least. The narrator's voice was perfect for the Audible production.