Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World

This book is about mobilizing women (and men) to get off the sidelines and become active in effecting beneficial change in society. The author is challenging women to become involved in changing society toward benefitting women. Gillibrand said men learned this lesson a long time ago. In so many words change will not happen until more women become active in all areas of government. Gillibrand says politics is one big way to change the country and we need to put more women in position to make change. Gillibrand said generally women work to get bills passed and are more willing to focus on the goal and not let petty party politics get in the way of the greater good. The author said her fellow female Senators are more willing to reach across the aisle to achieve goals and more willing to compromise. Gillibrand describes her fight to get 9/11 first responder health insurance passed and the fight to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. She goes on to say there are many areas that work is need on such as workplace discrimination, access to child care, equal rights, sexual discrimination and abuse in the military and on college campuses and many many more. The author says politics is a means for advocacy for her causes. In many ways this is a book with an ethical message.

Gillibrand provides a memoir of her life up to writing the book to illustrate what triggered her to get off the side lines and become an advocate for change in her community. She first was elected to Congress from the 20th district in New York. When Hillary Clinton left the Senate to run for president Gillibrand was appointed to Clinton’s place in the Senate. Edward Kennedy was the senior senator from New York and Gillibrand worked with him on the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal. When Kennedy died Warren was elected to his Senate Chair. She discuss the distaste she has of comments made about women’s clothes, hair style, weight and so on whether they are running for office, giving a speech or in the business board room. These types of comments are not made about the men. Gillibrand tell what it was like to be pregnant when she was a congresswomen and having young children while working in the Senate.

Over all I found the book interesting and I do hope that it will motivate young girls to think of a career in politics, or the career areas of government such as the State, Treasury, Justice Department or other such areas. Gillibrand recommends everyone become active in their local community government. Some will want to advance to state and federal government or other related organization to advocate for their causes. I noted that Gillibrand and many of the politicians are attorneys therefore, that appears to be a good professional path to positions of leadership and government jobs. I wish Gillibrand had provided some suggestion of courses to take or professions that would help provide the needed skills and tools to be an effective politician.

I had recently read the biography of Chief Justice Lorna Lockwood of the Arizona Supreme Court and had noted she encouraged women attorneys to advance themselves to various judgeships. Lockwood said women need to advance themselves in their profession and to help the young women coming up in the profession. Lockwood said more women in all areas of professions, business, not for profit organizations and government would bring about a more balanced world. Susan Denaker did a good job narration the book.

Greatly enjoyed the book -- think it was especially good in audible format. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely vote for KG.