Breadwinners - by Melissa Hogenboom Hardcover

Book Synopsis

Huge social changes occurring in real time are leading us to rethink traditional roles in our homes, workplaces and in society. So why do women who outearn their male partners still tend to do more housework and childcare? Why are unemployed men generally happier if their female partners are also unemployed? Why is unpaid labour still seen as a less important contribution than paid work within family units?

In Breadwinners, award-winning science journalist Melissa Hogenboom interviews dozens of female breadwinners, stay-at-home dads and same-sex couples, comparing their stories to the latest research to demonstrate the consequences of changing dynamics. She reveals how pursuing and maintaining power is a key part of every human interaction, affecting every area of our lives. Breadwinners shows how, the closer we look, the easier it is to see the influence of power structures all around us. Ultimately, it gives readers the tools to address imbalances and improve our relationships at home and at work.

If we can share power more equally, we can improve not only our own wellbeing but also recognise how to dismantle social structures that are seemingly set in stone.

Review Quotes

"[Melissa Hogenboom is] a really exciting thinker who has that wonderful ability to take lots of information . . . and then clarify in a way that makes it open and digestible"--SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR

"Fascinating . . . At the heart of it all is power: a key part of every human interaction"-- "Financial Times"

"Fascinating and enraging . . . A sharp, evidence-based account of how stereotypes and invisible imbalances influence everything from who empties the dishwasher to who advances at work. Fair warning: it will make you angry - and rightly so"-- "New Scientist"

"Gender trumps money - and it's time for this to change. This book is a factual companion for women looking to change the conversation around how they work, live and prosper"--DEBBIE WOSSKOW OBE

"If I'd understood the weight of the invisible work I was doing as a breadwinner and young mother- if I'd had a book like this - I might have spoken up sooner, especially to myself"--MARY PORTAS

"In Melissa Hogenboom's fascinating new book, Breadwinners, she teases out precisely why this [overwhelming pressure, financial constraints and guilt] is inevitable in a society where men are still judged by their earning power and women by their hold over the domestic scene. I read it and concluded we may have dismantled the breadwinner model, but our cultural expectations haven't caught up"--ELIZA FILBY

"Melissa is one of the best science journalists out there - always with clarity, receipts and exactly the kind of factoid that leaves you with your mind blown. Ultimately, this book on power imbalances rips up the status quo by empowering us, the readers, with exactly the kind of information we need to challenge them"--SOPHIA SMITH GALER

"Melissa Hogenboom is a brilliant science writer and Breadwinners is the top of her game. I love her strong authorial voice and her nuanced analysis of the scientific literature. I can think of no one better to examine power dynamics at home and in the workplace, and to bring this fascinating research to a wide audience"--DAVID ROBSON

"Power, sex, and dishwashing: in this fascinating book, Melissa Hogenboom explores how differences in earnings affect every aspect of our relationships, from the most intimate to the most mundane"--HUGO MERCIER

"This eye-opening book invites us to rethink outdated expectations and imagine more equal, fulfilling partnerships that align with the lives we truly want to lead"--HEEJUNG CHUNG

About the Author

Melissa Hogenboom is an award-winning science journalist, filmmaker and editor at the BBC. She makes and commissions films and writes articles on a range of topics including psychology, neuroscience, human evolution and health. She is currently a health correspondent and commissioning executive at BBC Studios. Her journalism has been recognised by multiple awards, including the Webby Awards, Drum Awards, AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards, Telly Awards and Association of British Science Writers Awards. She is a New America fellow and the author of two books, The Motherhood Complex and Breadwinners.

melissahogenboom.com @melissa_hogenboom