New Feminized Majority: How Democrats Can Change America with Women's Values

Building beyond Lakoff's election-year best-seller, Don't Think of an Elephant, this new book shows how the values of American voters are dramatically shifting. With the arrival of the 2008 election year, a rising "feminized majority"-made up of both women and men-is emerging as the pivotal force in American politics. Emerging trends show these values are broadly progressive and address not just the needs of women but the general interests of society. They are held by women substantially more than by men but have become the values held by a majority of all voters, including millions of men. Like earlier eras in American history, such as the New Deal, the rise of the feminized majority today presents an opportunity for the Democrats to become the governing party for decades to come. Looking beyond the 2008 election, Adam and Derber describe a new political strategy that targets the feminized base and opens up a window for major social justice movements to make progressive change. Like Lakoff's, this striking new book-perfectly timed for election year 2008-offers a new vocabulary for every citizen who wants to understand (and reimagine) American politics. It will intrigue and provoke readers, stirring new conversation among progressives and new insights for every citizen interested in politics, morality, religion, values, and social justice.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Democrats Have Values, Too; Chapter 1 Mars versus Venus; Chapter 2 America’s Masculinized History; Chapter 3 The Rise of the Feminized Majority; Chapter 4 Women’s Values and a New America; Chapter 5 Sex, Class, and Values; Chapter 6 How Democrats Can Win; Chapter 7 Beyond Corporate Democrats; Chapter 8 Attracting Men; Chapter 9 Edwards, Obama, Kucinich, and Feminized Male Courage; Chapter 10 Hillary Clinton and the Hope of a Feminized Future; conclusion Conclusion;

About the Author :
Katherine Adam is the Outreach Coordinator for the Philadelphia GROW Project of the Drexel University School of Public Health, which serves the needs of low-income children. She has been active in Democratic Party politics at the federal, state, and local levels, including interning for Senator John Kerry. Charles Derber, a noted social critic, is Professor of Sociology at Boston College. He is the author of eleven internationally acclaimed books, including Corporation Nation, Hidden Power, and The Wilding of America. He has written for the Boston Globe, Newsday, and other mass media, and appears frequently on television and radio talk shows.

Review :
"Since the gender gap was identified in the 1980s, candidates have pandered to women voters-only to turn their backs when elected. Not this time, say Derber and Adam in this insightful twist on presidential politics. Women's values matter as much as their votes in this election. As those values are pro family, environment, children, health care, a strong economy, peace, and a strong, principled United States, then history will be made in this election no matter what. This time, not just a gender gap, but a victory for values. This is a valuable book chronicling this pivotal moment." - Susan Shaer, executive director of Women's Action for New Directions (WAND"The New Feminized Majority has breathtaking implications for understanding short and long-term changes in American society, politics, and culture. The authors are careful researchers, a talented writing team, and outstanding social commentators." -Judith Blau, UNC-Chapel Hill and President of Sociologists without Borders "Charles Derber is one of our most astute and eloquent social critics."-Howard Zinn