The Authority Gap

Here is a brilliant manifesto explaining why women are still so underestimated and overlooked in today’s world, but how we can also be hopeful for change. * Philippa Perry *Just in case anyone still thinks the patriarchy is a figment of feminist imagination, this book will prove otherwise. Everyone needs to read The Authority Gap because in order to change our culture, we need to fully recognise the problem. * Bernadine Evaristo *An impassioned, meticulously argued and optimistic call to arms for anyone who cares about creating a fairer society. * Observer *Persuasive, arresting, punchy and incisive. * The Sunday Times *Crackling with controlled anger, it features some eye-popping stories and a stellar cast of interviewees, from presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt to the novelist Bernardine Evaristo. Buy it for any woman ever talked over in a meeting, or patronised by a man who knows less than them. – Gaby Hinsliff * Guardian Best Political Books of 2021 *Deeply researched, profoundly thoughtful and a book very much for the here and now: Mary Ann Sieghart’s The Authority Gap is the book she was probably born to write. It is both a warning tract for bombastic, dismissive men, and a cheerful manual for all ambitious women. * Andrew Marr *In The Authority Gap, Mary Ann Sieghart combines an absorbing review of the contemporary evidence on the systematic undervaluing of women with some powerful new insights. Whether you know a little or a lot about sexism and misogyny, there is much to learn from this book, including some very practical tips on creating change that you can implement the minute after you turn the last page. * Julia Gillard, Former Prime Minister of Australia *Fascinating, powerful…the subject is very close to my heart. * Elif Shafak *Hugely exciting. * Emily Maitlis *At last here is a credible roadmap that is capable of taking women from the margins to the centre by bridging the authority gap that holds back even the best and most talented of women. Read this and weep at what we are wasting. Read this and believe we can fly on two wings and soon. * Mary McAleese, Former President of Ireland *

Mary Ann Sieghart spent 20 years as Assistant Editor and columnist at The Times and won a large following for her columns on politics, economics, feminism, parenthood and life in general. She has presented many programmes on BBC Radio 4, such as Start the Week, Profile, Analysis and One to One. She chaired the revival of The Brains Trust on BBC2 and recently spent a year as a Visiting Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. She has chaired the Social Market Foundation think tank and sits on numerous boards.