Revolting Women

Dr Lucy Ryan is a leadership coach, consultant, author and passionate advocate for women’s professional development. Her doctoral research project explored the phenomenon of midlife for professional women, a long-standing data gap, and she works with companies internationally to unlock the potential of this key talent pool.

• Preface:Jane’s Story: Collision and coincidence.IntroductionEmbarking on this journeyPart 1 – What’s the problem?Chapter 1Midlife: the forgotten ageCrisis, what crisis?The diversity conundrumLies, damn lies and statisticsWhere have all the (older) women gone?Diane’s Story: The creative collaboratorChapter 2Midlife Myths in a man-made world#1 It’s all old news (and solved)#2They don't want it#3 We’ve got one, thanks#4 It’s all downhill from here#5 They’re mad, bad and sadSarah’s Story: Going to the festivalChapter 3Looking back to look forwardsA brief history of female anatomy and ‘inferiority’Proving the gender differenceMedicalising the older womanFemale stereotyping and leadershipNiamh’s story: Stepping up or outPart II – Ageing in the workplaceChapter 4Strangers withinFeeding the food chainThe power of languageActing youngSilver fox meets silver vixenJoelle’s story: the 50-minute make-up workout Chapter 5Critical collisionsThe midlife ‘smash-up’Losing control and running on emptyWho Cares?Empty nesting and other syndromesNicki’s story: To stop, to pause, to changeChapter 6Menopause mattersFacts and frictionsSymptoms and the lived experienceHRT and other solutionsJo’s story: Dressing for the BoardChapter 7The Ticking ClockFacing loss and finding purposeAvoiding the ‘nasties’Existential angst and the big MFrankie’s story: What is it worth?Chapter 8Motivation and MidlifeThe Motivation MythThe imprint of old scienceRaring and ready to… retire?Claire’s story: Stepping out to step upPart III – Rewriting the rules: alternative perspectivesChapter 9Mirror, mirror: on the other handEnergy ambition and ageCyn’s story: Bucking the trend Resilient midlife womenBrenda’s story: Braver, stronger, fitter Post-menopausal zest!Lori’s story: Feeding all parts of my life Chapter 10Reconfiguring success: the organisation’s perspectiveTackling assumptionSimon’s story The flexible midlife workplaceSteph’s story Creative collaboration across the generationsGeraint’s story Chapter 11A positive agenda for changeFor policy makersFor employersFor womenFor menFor youAdditional Reading and resourcesReferencesAcknowledgementsIndex.

This book is based on research in the UK but has application for the United States too. The author talked in depth to women executives to blow up the false narratives on why women leave organizations at the top of their game. Often the mythology is that women want freedom to strike out on their own or are in the "sandwich" generation and need to take care of children and aging parents. What organizations don't look at typically are the systemic challenges in organizations that keep women from achieving their potential...There is a section on Menopause which is critically important and only recently has been getting focus in the news and among legislators. I encourage leaders and HR professionals to read this book to start examining the systemic barriers for women in organizations - GoodReads