Publishers Weekly
04/13/2020
Palmieri (Dear Madam President), communications director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, offers a spirited and accessible manifesto for women seeking to combat the patriarchy through both personal and collective action. Inspired by the Declaration of Sentiments drafted by organizers of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, Palmieri rallies feminists with slogans for advancing the women’s movement (“We proclaim that we value women of all ages”), and urges women to “refuse to allow scare tactics to control or silence us.” She encourages women to educate themselves on historical examples of female empowerment, and to demand that large corporations do more to close the wage gap than the token gesture of promoting just one or two women to positions of leadership. In the book’s strongest sections, she condemns America’s culture of patriarchy with anecdotes from her career, including being called to testify in the special counsel investigation into Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky, and witnessing Donald Trump appear to “stalk” Hillary Clinton around a 2016 debate stage. Prioritizing optimism and support over anger and frustration, Palmieri reaches out to women of diverse backgrounds, though she occasionally descends into platitudes. Feminists will be heartened by this inspirational guide to fighting for gender equality. Agent: Matt Latimer, Javelin. (June)
From the Publisher
Praise for She Proclaims:
"She Proclaims reminds us that we, the people, are powerful. And while we stand on the shoulders of those who have come before, as an intersectional ceiling shattering movement we're just getting started."
—Congressional Representative Ayanna Pressley
"She Proclaims skillfully and movingly uses the stories of women who fought for our right to vote more than a hundred years ago to inspire women in America today to believe in the righteousness of our cause, break from the constraints that have traditionally held women back, and make our own path that improves the world."—Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to President Barack Obama and New York Times bestselling author of Finding My Voice
"Jennifer knows the fundamental truth: ambition is not a dirty word. Women must embrace their own ambition and dare to dream big. Women will do things differently, and that's a good thing. Together, we will break down the barriers standing in our way."—Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
"She Proclaims delivers a rousing 21st century prescription for a path forward that refutes the notion of gender equality as a zero sum game. This is an essential crie de cour not only for all women who want to reach their full potential but for men who understand that systems of oppression ultimately defeat us all."—Tony Goldwyn, actor
"She Proclaims is centered around the simple but profound recognition that the world as it is was never built for women. As women everywhere are realizing, the time for trying to retrofit ourselves to systems built by men and for men is over. As Jennifer writes, women have nothing left to prove; we are ready to build something better."—Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood and New York Times bestselling author of Make Trouble
"Jennifer Palmieri guides us - women and men alike - into a deeper understanding of what true gender equality looks like. An empowering manifesto written with a generous spirit, She Proclaims provides us with new insight on women's past efforts, tools for the future, and inspiration for all of us to strive for the mutual empowerment that will benefit everyone."
—Connie Britton, actress
"Inspiring and invigorating, this brief, sharp call to action cries out for continued feminist action in order to create an American society based on 'equality for all.' A provocatively progressive declaration."—Kirkus Reviews
"A spirited and accessible manifesto for women seeking to combat the patriarchy through both personal and collective action."—Publishers Weekly
"In Dear Madam President, Palmieri addressed the hypothetical first female president of the U.S., guided by her experience as former White House communications director for President Obama and director of communications for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Now she expands her audience, encouraging every woman to realize her power...It will especially appeal to readers who responded to Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In."—Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
2020-04-05
The director of communications for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign offers a manifesto for American women seeking empowerment outside patriarchy.
When Clinton lost the election, her setback mirrored the situation for all American women seeking to shatter professional glass ceilings. As Palmieri observes, “the professional world belongs to men, and women are only visitors.” In this follow-up to Dear Madam President (2018), the author creates a modern declaration of independence in 13 sections that draw on feminist history, current events, and her own experiences as a working woman. Each chapter begins with a “proclamation” that rejects "truths" about women created by patriarchy: for example, that only "a limited number of women…can succeed in the world and that the professional advancement of women is a zero-sum game,” or that females must silence themselves in order to be accepted. Palmieri suggests that events and trends like the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, the #MeToo movement, and the unprecedented numbers of women attaining political office in the last two years reveal an increased, vocal desire to “even out the power dynamic between men and women.” Furthermore, the rise to prominence of older, more experienced women disparaged by patriarchy (and also represented by Clinton) can only benefit society. Indeed, Palmieri asserts that midlife has been nothing but productive and “exhilarating” for her. But because American society is governed by the rules of men, women’s continued efforts to better their status have still not achieved the social parity for which such feminist foremothers as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul fought. Inclusivity is at the heart of Palmieri’s "declaration," which she asserts is an attack against patriarchal systems rather than individual men. Inspiring and invigorating, this brief, sharp call to action cries out for continued feminist action in order to create an American society based on “equality for all.”
A provocatively progressive declaration.
