| |
| author |
Abigail Pereira
| | title |
Fix Yourself or Fix the System? Divergent Messages in Women's Career Advice Books
| | abstract |
This thesis examines how bestselling women's career self-help books explain gender
inequality and professional success, focusing on whether they emphasize individual
responsibility or structural barriers. Using qualitative content analysis, the study analyzes Lean
In by Sheryl Sandberg, The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, and Get to Work
by Linda R. Hirshman. The books were coded for individualistic themes such as confidence,
ambition, and personal responsibility, as well as sociological themes including workplace
inequality, caregiving expectations, and institutional barriers. The findings show that Lean In and
The Confidence Code primarily promote self-improvement and leadership as solutions to
workplace inequality, while Get to Work places greater emphasis on structural constraints and
collective or policy-based solutions. Overall, individualistic explanations appeared more
frequently across the texts, highlighting how popular self-help literature often frames women's
professional advancement through personal change rather than broader structural reform.
| | school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| | degree |
B.A. (2026)
|
| advisor |
Christopher K. Andrews
Caitlin Killian
and Miao Chi
|
| full text | APereira.pdf |
| |
