Where Have All The Smart Women Gone?

By Alice Rowe, Ph.D.
Nonfiction
80 pages
ISBN 0-9703089-0-6

In her 2001 release “Where Have All the Smart Women Gone?”, local author Alice Rowe keenly explores the lives of 24 professional women to discover what influenced their career choices. Each of these women, characterized by others as “gifted” from an early age, seemingly had the world at her feet. Yet, quite often, they chose career paths that, by their own admission, did not maximize their potential.

With a doctorate degree in human development, Rowe seeks answers to uncover the influences that often inhibit women from following their dreams. She begins this fascinating journey of discovery with a look at historical and cultural views of women, many of which are disconcerting, such as this quote from Martin Luther (1483-1546):  

“No dress or garment is less becoming to a woman than a show of intelligence.”

In a fascinating analogy of a fictitious country called Double Bind, Rowe suggests that our culture is not as equal or modern as we would like. Based on her conversations with the women depicted in her book, Rowe reveals that women are often encouraged to take the easy, safe path or the one most expected by our teachers and our families. In addition, women frequently “dumb down” so as not to intimidate others.

Diana, one of the women studied, said, “Since fifth grade, I made sure I wasn’t too good, too noticeable.”

With telling quotes, insightful discussions, and historical and educational research, Rowe presents an unattractive vision of our so-called modernized society.  She reveals blatant examples of the sexism that has remained in our culture for centuries and which appears to run rampant in our families and schools.

Throughout the book, Rowe shares colorful, personal stories of her subjects to illustrate their struggles to succeed in spite of various negative influences. In a poignant display of compassion and understanding, Rowe reveals her theories in the women’s own words, letting each tell her own story in collections of related quotes and snippets.

After exploring the downside to our sexist culture, Rowe presents encouragement to her readers in the second half of the book using another fictitious country called Celebration. Here she highlights her subjects’ achievements and touts their personal growth, primarily with anecdotes and quotes from the women themselves. Drawing on her both her experience and her belief in the strength and intelligence of women, Rowe paints an encouraging picture of how women can persevere in the face of adversity and negative cultural influences. She references the works of other authors, like Emily Hancock’s “The Girl Within” and Barbara Clark’s “Growing Up Gifted”, to support her theories.

While the predominant audience for Rowe’s book is women, it has garnered male readers as well, providing them with insight into the ever changing world of women. With Rowe’s conversational, matter-of-fact style, she opens a welcoming window to men who want to know more about the struggles of their mothers, their wives, their sisters and their daughters.

Perhaps this book won’t change the world, but it can certainly open the eyes of men and women alike to the possibility of change.

Meet the Author

Alice Rowe, Ph.D., is an author, trainer, educator and professional speaker specializing in encouraging women to let their light shine. Currently, she resides with her husband in Seattle, while maintaining a vacation home in Bellingham’s Sudden Valley. In addition to her undergraduate degree in political science from Simmons College, Rowe holds a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University and a doctorate in human and organizational development from The Fielding Institute.

Rowe has taught at a variety of educational levels and frequently develops and implements training programs and seminars for corporations and the government. Her most recent project has been to address the contemporary needs of men and women in the workplace.

This book review first appeared in the August 20, 2004 edition of
the Whatcom Independent.

To buy Where Have All The Smart Women Gone?, click on the Village Books link below.