Summary of Bryan Caplan's Don't Be a Feminist

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 Don’t be a feminist if and only if society generally treats men more fairly than women. Otherwise, no one’s going to stop you.

#2 There’s a gender earnings gap, but it is quite small. If you compare single, childless men and women, almost all of the earnings gap goes away. Also, if you compare single, childless men and men who work full-time jobs, the gap remains. b. The Time Gap The second most popular target for the unfairness of modern society is the time gap between men and women. Men do more housework, take more risks, smoke and drink more than women, and so on. 9 However, this does not lead to an unfair outcome: Men are different from women in ways that make them better suited for certain roles. 10 If you compare full-time workers of either sex, most of the time gap disappears. 11 The average man works slightly longer hours than the average woman; he also works longer weeks and longer years. But when you compare their full-time years at work, there is no gender gap in hours worked. 12 -> The first list of unfairness is easy to compile: Men make more money than women, are overrepresented at the top levels of business, government, science, and beyond, and do much less childcare and housework than women.

#3 The first list of modern unfairness is easy to compile: Men make more money than women, are overrepresented at the top levels of business, government, science, and beyond, and do much less childcare and housework than women.

#4 Modern society is not unfair to men. Men are overrepresented at the top levels of business, government, science, and beyond, and they do less childcare and housework than women.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Sep 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798350029727

IRB Media

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Insights from Chapter 1

#1

To understand what feminism is, you must first define it. Most non-feminists in the United States believe in treating men and women as equals, which means they believe in the same things that feminism believes in.

#2

To assess feminism, we cannot simply list gender inequalities. We must figure out why these inequalities exist. The earnings gap is a good example of this. If you compare single, childless men to single, childless women, almost all of the earnings gap goes away.

#3

The over-representation of men at the top and the bottom of society is often used to blame men for the under-representation of women at the top and the bottom. However, this argument is flawed. It is simply more common for men to obsess over success than for women.

#4

Some argue that our society is unfair for not pushing girls as hard as boys. But why are males also over-represented at the bottom of society. This is more bizarre blame-shifting.

#5

The traditional division of labor is just the leading option if you want something else. Don’t lash out at society for being unfair, but instead try to preempt a marital mismatch by making your feelings known long in advance of having kids.

#6

Men and women are superficial when it comes to their romantic partners. They tend to fixate on a