THE WOES OF GENDER DISCRIMINATION:
Fired for Being Female addresses one of the more complex issues
in the employment world, and one of the harsher penalties endured by
working mothers- dismissal during pregnancy. The book closely follows the
development of the implementation of the Israeli law meant to protect all
women from dismissal, while exposing the manner in which the Women’s
Labour Law became a law protecting employers. The phenomenon
slowly emerges as a reflection of the economic, social and cultural shifts
throughout the present and past of the State of Israel, as it moved from
a socialist state to one in which money is the only driving force for both
state and citizens.
While the book is a fascinating documentation of the development of
the phenomenon as reflected in the strengthening of neo-liberalism, the
author succeeds in tracing the ways in which inequality is created, to
demonstrate how the weak are weakened, how the actions of women may
assist them in maintaining their employment status, as well as providing
an in-depth examination of how the individual’s cultural-economic capital
improves their chances of receiving the state’s protection. The book points
to the fact that a lack of coordination between the various government
ministries, non-uniform legislation, blurred task definitions and varied
institutional interests significantly impede the ability of women to access
legal assistance.
The study of dismissals during pregnancy points to wider social problems,
and this book therefore acts as a unique document which may act as a
milestone for decision makers and aid organizations or individuals seeking
to understand the ways in which it is possible to minimize inequality, for
the benefit of a more just society.
