All of the scenarios are driven by the interaction of global economy with the disparity between individual and group rights. The first section is entitled "Backlash" - a depressing but believable version where male domination continues in the business world. Presented next is the "Golden Age of Equality," where prosperity brings a balance between family and work, and everyone is happy. Women progress in all areas and men are freed from "anachronistic assumptions about their proper roles." In "Two-steps forward, two steps back," women make gains in the workplace, but never reach the same status as their male counterparts. The last section is "Separate - and doing fine, thanks!" where success is found in women dominated companies and safety found in femmunes - all female villages.
For each scenario, the authors blend events from 1990 to 2015 leading to some confusion as to what really happened and what is fabricated. A more creative artifice is the use of short personal essays, which are peppered throughout the text. These vignettes from fictional women bring the different scenarios to life.
Book club members had diverse opinions about "The Futures of Women." The book is certainly creative in its description of the future, and the premise is fascinating. However, at times the writing is encumbered by too many details and bears a textbook style (though some people do enjoy reading textbooks). For those of you who are interested in what the next century may hold, and what should be done to steer us toward a "Golden Age of Equality", the book is worth looking in to.