Swiftynomics | An Evening with Misty L. Heggeness

Join Misty L. Heggeness for a lively discussion of her new book, Swiftynomics, a feminist romp through pop culture and economics that reveals how women shape—and sustain—the modern economy. From Taylor Swift and Beyoncé to everyday working women, Heggeness explores the data behind women’s hidden labor, the barriers they face, and the power they hold to rewrite the rules.

🎟 Free & open to the public · RSVP recommended

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A feminist romp through pop culture that illuminates how women influence and shape the economy. Taylor Swift isn't just a pop megastar. She is a working woman whose astounding accomplishments defy patriarchal norms. And while not all women can be Beyoncé or Dolly Parton or Reese Witherspoon, the successes of these trailblazing stars help us understand the central role of women in today's economy. Swiftynomics assesses the complex economic lives of everyday American women through the stories of groundbreakers like Taylor Swift, Misty L. Heggeness digs into the data, revealing women's hidden contributions and aspirations—the unexamined value they create by pursuing their own ambitions. She highlights the abundance of productive activity in their daily lives and acknowledges the barriers they still face. Exploring critical reforms regarding caregiving and gendered labor, this book offers advice for women to thrive in an economy that was not built for them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Misty L. Heggeness is co-director of the Kansas Population Center, Associate Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at the University of Kansas, and former Principal Economist and Senior Advisor at the US Census Bureau. She is also creator of The Care Board, a dashboard of economic statistics built by and for caregivers that brings their economic contributions into the fold.