Giselle Goodwin
Author & Speaker

Welcome!

I write self-help books for women – though not the fluffy, saccharine kind about ‘finding your inner goddess.’ My approach is rooted in raw honesty, personal stories and plenty of research – with just a dash of feminism to keep things spicy! I’ve always been driven by a passion for social justice, especially when I think of the world my daughters are growing up in.

Throughout life’s ups and downs, from teenage angst to motherhood, self-help books have been my lifeline, helping me tackle everything from work challenges to personal struggles. Naturally, I’ve spent a lot of time pondering one big question: How can life be better for women?

If that’s a question you’re interested in too, subscribe to my email list here for insights on women’s work, happiness, health and wealth. Grab a copy of my book Can Women Really Have It All? A Happiness Handbook for Working Mothers here, or pick up my free companion guide to create your very own Happiness Manifesto.

As well as being a mother, I am also a business owner and ran my own companies for 20 years. This definitely kept me on my toes: some days were kick-ass great, and others had me wondering how I could fake my own disappearance and move to a desert island. In 2018, I sold my businesses and, instead of that island retreat, I went back to university to complete a PhD in women, work, and well-being.

Some shocking things I’ve learned? Gender inequality reduces women’s happiness in a myriad of ways including the pay gap, the healthcare gap and the domestic gap. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Did you know that when husbands pitch in more at home, wives are less depressed, arguments drop and (get this) the risk of divorce is halved. And apparently, both men and women who describe themselves as feminists have better sex lives. Who knew feminism could be such a turn-on? So, yes, I write self-help for women but with a feminist twist – because feminism genuinely makes life better for everyone. Grab a cuppa, get comfy, and let’s explore.

Explore the Book

So, the big question is…

Can Women Really Have it All?

In this book, I tackle some sobering statistics that might make your blood boil but will hopefully inspire you to take action for change. For instance, did you know that working mothers are 40% more stressed than their peers without children and 28% more prone to burnout than working fathers? Or that women’s happiness has been on a downward slope since the 1970s? Women are both less happy than we used to be and less happy in comparison with men. Women are expected to work three jobs – one unpaid at home, one paid in the workplace and a third managing life in our female bodies. The extra labour women perform adds up to years of our lives.

About the book

In my book, I dig deep into the challenges working mothers face – and, most importantly, I offer a roadmap for change. This isn’t just a rant about our struggles; it’s a data-driven guide to how we got here and how we can make things better.

I explore women’s well-being across a range of topics, including gender equality at home and in the workplace, women’s sexuality and the experiences of female bodies. I examine issues like the glass ceiling and the laundry wars, guilt and the burnt toast, and the sticky situation of porn in the internet age. I delve into the science of happiness, analysing what research reveals about the impact of marriage, children and careers on women’s overall contentment. Finally, I offer practical, research-backed solutions that are relevant for all women, but especially for working mothers.

It’s about more than just identifying the issues – it’s about hope, empowerment, and practical strategies for creating a better, more fulfilling life.

BUY THE BOOK

Full of irrefutable data and relatable stories, this book generates many ‘ah-ha’ moments. It will make you feel seen.

Claire Thomas

Founding Member
Pregnant Then Screwed

A fascinating and highly researched – but also very personal – examination of what modern mothering is like, and how things could and should improve.

Rebecca Seal

Author of Be Bad, Better, How Not Trying So Hard Will Set You Free

An invaluable guidebook for working mothers who want to make their and others’ lives happier and for activists wanting to make positive change for women and work.

Vanessa King

Action for Happiness and author of 10 Keys to Happier Living: A Practical Handbook for Happiness

Giselle’s book boldly defines the dilemma women face, and impressively outlines the possible solutions.

Jennifer Cox

Psychotherapist and author of Women are Angry: Why Your Rage is Hiding and How to Let it Out.

One of the most thorough explanations I have seen on the challenges women face. This book is an inspiration to working mothers on how to keep going.

Dr Beth Cabrera

Author of Beyond Happy: Women, Work and Well-Being.

For all working mothers, this book tackles the important topic of how time pressures affect well-being and, importantly, what we can do about it.

Professor Cassie Holmes

University of California, Los Angeles and author of Happier Hour: How to Spend Your Time for a Happier, More Meaningful Life

An essential toolkit for all female change-makers.

Kelly Keating

Aspiring Women

Giselle provides an essential roadmap for mothers – and all people, really – seeking time for meaningful work, love, care and connection, and the leisure time to truly savour a rich and full life.  Backed by research, compelling stories, and practical tips, Giselle ultimately paints a vision of a hopeful, enriching, and equitable future that will be better for us all

Brigid Schulte

Author of Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play when No One Has the Time and Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life and director of The Better Life Lab at New America.

About The Author

I grew up in Canada and now live in Cheshire, England with my husband and two teenage daughters. I have a foot firmly planted on each side of the Atlantic but must confess to a significant disinterest in anything involving snow or rain. My bliss zone involves sunshine, sandy feet, palm trees and frozen strawberry daiquiris.

Over the course of a 25-year career, I co-founded, grew and successfully sold three businesses: two in healthcare and one in recruitment. Alongside this, I navigated countless children’s birthday parties, sports events, parent-teacher meetings and dentist appointments. In my spare time, I can be reliably found in our utility room guiltily discarding odd socks and my family’s grey, ratty underwear when it gets eaten by the washing machine.

While juggling my career and family life, I often felt like I was failing on all fronts. Driven by a desire to find a better way – not just for myself but for my children – I returned to university to explore the elusive issue of women’s work-life balance. In 2022, I completed my PhD on women, work and well-being, and my first book is the culmination of that research.

I am passionately interested in all causes relating to equality and social justice. If you are too and would like to connect, I would love to hear from you.

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Contact Giselle

Dr Giselle Goodwin
giselle@gisellegoodwin.com

Giselle GoodwinAuthor & Speaker