Book delves into women’s role in corporate gaming
By Yun Long, Reno Gazette-Journal
Two UNR professors examine the role women play in corporate gaming in their new book, “Casino Women: Courage in Unexpected Places.”
Associate professor Susan Chandler and associate professor emeritus Jill B. Jones spent 10 years interviewing housekeepers, dealers, union organizers and vice presidents about their struggles in the male-dominated world of global gaming.
“Part of it was, when you read about gaming, Las Vegas and Reno, it’s all about men,” Chandler said. “We wanted to give women a voice in that.”
The authors profiled women like Geoconda Arguello Kline, an immigrant maid who helped build one of the most powerful unions in the United States — the Culinary Workers Union.
“So many women are leaders in the union, and we don’t know anything about them,” Chandler said. “They make a huge chunk of the economy run.”
The book details several inspiring stories of union president Kline, African American leader Sarah Hughes and staff organizer Mirna Preciado, who overcame fear and low self-esteem to organize thousands to join together to fight for better workers rights and benefits.