Title: The Mother and the Manager: Uncovering the Codependent Nature of Our Male and Female Gender
Author: Elizabeth Ralston
Publisher: Leavitt Peak Press
ISBN: 9781962363105
Pages: 222
Genre: Non-Fiction / Interpersonal Relationships
Reviewer: Anthony Avina

Read Book Review

In our modern age, one of the biggest discussions in our social framework is the role that gender plays in people’s lives. For so many years there was a consensus that there were traditional roles men and women were meant to follow, but as society has evolved, so have many of the concepts for how gender plays into how our relationships and identities evolve.

The concept of gender roles and how they contribute to codependent relationships in life is the cornerstone of author Elizabeth Ralston’s The Mother and the Manager: Uncovering the Codependent Nature of Our Male and Female Gender. The book focuses on the ways in which gender roles play into the codependency found in modern relationships and offers a series of solutions to help people deal with this problem. A book meant to speak to both men and women, the book looks at the state of gender roles in the twenty-first century and shows the path to helping people on the road to recovery and overcoming the sense of low self-esteem and failed relationships which have been impacted by the patriarchy.

This is a truly insightful and engaging read. The author does a remarkable job of showcasing the complex nature of the role gender plays in everyday life. The author highlights the ways in which codependency is impacted by gender, including both the purposeful and passive ways in which one person can act as a “manager” in the relationship, influencing the behavior and actions of the other partner in the relationship. The balance the author struck between professional writing styles and personal, heartfelt experiences allows the readers to connect with the author’s words and feel their impact on a much deeper level.

Compelling and thoughtfully written, this book is the perfect read for those who enjoy non-fiction books, especially those that are geared towards relationships, societal studies, gender studies, and interpersonal relationships overall. The author’s goal wasn’t just to highlight the changes in gender norms such as an equal work force and two-household incomes which have changed gender norms over the years, but to show the power of partnership and how modern-day couples can be both independent and dependent at the same time with one another, collaborating and cooperating to make the best decisions for their relationship moving forward. The practicality and honesty in which the author discusses this idea of partnership is inspiring and keeps the reader invested in the author’s work. Elizabeth Ralston pulls back the curtain on the covert codependency between masculine and feminine roles in our society.  This book is essential reading for those seeking to break free from unconscious patterns and redefine what it means to be male or female in a modern world.