Screwnomics

Additional Information:

Release Date: April 3, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-63152-318-2
LCCN: 2017-958-163
Screwnomics is published by She Writes Press, an award-winning hybrid publisher for women authors.

SYNOPSIS

The personal is not only political, it’s also economic and sexual: as a society, we’re encouraged to view economics as objective science far removed from us—when in reality it has concrete and far-reaching effects on our everyday lives. 

In Screwnomics, Rickey Gard Diamond shares personal stories, cartoons, and easy-to-understand economic definitions in her quest to explain the unspoken assumptions of 300 years of EconoMansplaining—the economic theory that women should always work for less, or better—for free. It unpacks economic definitions, turns a men-only history on its head, and highlights female experiences and solutions, encouraging female readers to think about their own economic memoir and confront our system’s hyper-masculine identity. 

In the past fifty years, the US has witnessed a major shift in economic theory, and yet few women can identify or talk about its influence in their own lives. Accessible and inspiring, Screwnomics offers female readers hope for a better, more inclusive future—and the tools to make that hope a reality.

PRAISE

". . . a powerfully accessible women's economics primer . . . Very, very highly recommended for the average woman who seeks a better understanding of how the American financial system works, why it's so often stacked against females, and what to do about it."
– Midwest Book Review, read the full review here

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“A smart, comprehensive economics guide with a feminist twist . . . her experience as a novelist, journalist, and professor are all brought to bear to demystify difficult concepts . . . Diamond’s wit and charm, combined with Todd’s quirky art, succeed in creating an economic primer that’s both informative and fun.”    
– Kirkus Reviews, read the full review here

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"In time to capitalize on the #MeToo movement, Diamond . . . dissects the foundation of economics: what it is and why it must change, from the female point of view. She simplifies the complex—CDOs and Pareto efficiency, for just two examples—and streamlines everyday money talk . . . Diamond’s solutions are logical yet will spark debate among all demographics, all geographies.”
– Barbara Jacobs, Booklist, read the full review here

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“Screwnomics tells it as it is—and shows that it does not have to be this way. We can build a more humane economy that recognizes the essential contribution of women and the ‘feminine’ values of caring and caregiving. Screwnomics is sobering reading, but also fun, thanks to the author's sense of humor and lively style. I highly recommend it!”
– Riane Eisler, author of The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics & The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future

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“Rickey Gard Diamond’s life experience provides clear guidance to all women challenging patriarchal institutions and biases. She unravels the justifications for such forms of dominance and how economic textbooks and theories undergird law and social policies maintaining male privilege. Required reading for achieving full gender equality and human rights!"
– Hazel Henderson, CEO, Ethical Markets Media and author of Creating Alternative Futures: The End of Economics; Beyond Globalization: Shaping a Sustainable Global Economy; and Ethical Markets: Growing the Green Economy.

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“A timely critique, and a needed story. Masculinity’s measure by money is not only ludicrous, it’s getting downright dangerous.”
– Nomi Prins, former managing director at Goldman Sachs, and author of All the Presidents’ Bankers: The Hidden Alliances that Drive American Power and It Takes A Pillage: An Epic Tale of Power, Deceit, and Untold Trillions.

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"Important work—may there be many more women's voices in economics! And long may the existing work of women economists be acknowledged in this way."
– Jane Gleeson-White, author of Double Entry: How the Merchants of Venice Created Modern Finance and Six Capitals: or Can Accountants Save the Planet?

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"A hopeful book that shows changes are not only possible, but necessary, and are already happening where women have a say."
– Les Leopold of The Labor Institute, author of Runaway Inequality

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“Everyone can learn something from Screwnomics. It takes apart our economic assumptions and practices piece by painful piece to show the underlying bias, and gives us important tools for crafting alternatives with learning conversations.”
– Gwendolyn Hallsmith, author of Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies and LASER: Local Action for Sustainable Economic Renewal.

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“This smart and brave new book is not only educational and insightful, but damn fun reading. In this #metoo time, it could not be more timely.”
– Bronwyn Fryer, author and former Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review

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“Banking in the public interest is only one of Diamond's topics, but its implications are huge, especially for small businesses where women's numbers are growing.”
– Ellen Brown, Public Banking Institute, Democracy Collaborative, and author of Web of Debt and The Public Banking Solution

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“We so much need this kind of book. I’m sending this to members of my old 1970s collective, Men Against Patriarchy; there will be rejoicing.”
– George Lakey, author of Viking Economics: How the Scandinavians Got it Right and How We Can Too

MEET RICKEY

A journalist and fiction writer, Rickey Gard Diamond has long focused on money, politics, and cultural change. Writing about people in poverty and government policy, she became founding editor of Vermont Woman in 1985, where she continues today as a contributing editor. While publishing articles and short fiction, she taught writing and literature, feminist and media studies at Vermont College of Norwich University for over 20 years. In 1999, Calyx Books published her novel, Second Sight, which was reissued by HarperCollins in 2000. In 2011 she was awarded a National Newspaper Association award for her article series, “An Economy of Our Own,” and in 2014 she won a Hedgebrook fellowship for her work on Screwnomics. Meanwhile, her short fiction, published in literary journals, was issued as a collection, Whole Worlds Could Pass Away (Rootstock Publishing, 2017). A mother and grandmother, she lives in Montpelier with her husband and their beautiful cat. She’s still organizing, blogging, and connecting with EconoGirlfriends around the world.

Visit Rickey’s website: www.screwnomics.org