Silicon Valley, Women, and the California Dream

"This highly original work is important for the way that it examines succeeding generations of women in a single location, and draws parallels and connections from one generation and type of work to another. In addition, it is an important source of information and analysis for both the geographic region it explores and for the industries it analyzes." - Robert W. Cherny, San Francisco State University "Matthews has added an indispensable contribution to the growing list of books about California's Silicon Valley. Her historical analysis of the area's development provides valuable context for understanding the valley's more recent social, economic, and demographic changes. And, by casting a focus on women in local society, Matthews has added a dimension mostly ignored by other authors. This is a must read for anyone interested in the origins and recent history of Silicon Valley." - Al Camarillo, Stanford University "For too many working women the promise of Silicon Valley has proven to be an illusion. Despite the rhetoric of the 'new' economy, gender-based wage discrimination and other 'old' inequities still persist. By exploding the myths surrounding the high-tech industry, Glenna Matthews sends a powerful message that while some women are lucky enough to be living their 'California Dream' the vast majority struggle just to earn a living." - Amy B. Dean, Executive Officer, South Bay AFL-CIO "There have been other books about Silicon Valley, but none with this multihistorical focus and concentration on the work of women." - History: Reviews of New Books "It is thoroughly researched, well written, and compelling." - Western Historical Quarterly