Why are ‘lazy girl jobs’ gaining momentum?
It would not be surprising if in several years many of these young women have transitioned from lazy girl jobs to more high power jobs.
Young women on social media have been proudly discussing “lazy girl jobs”, sparking backlash and raising questions about this generation’s work ethic. But lazy girl jobs are more than what they seem. An entire generation is fiercely protecting their peace while holding employers accountable. Here’s what lazy girl jobs entail, and why women are embracing them.
Defining lazy girl jobs
A lazy girl job is an opportunity for women to opt for a less demanding, high-stress job in exchange for work that offers leisure and flexibility, and is often remote. They are ideal for women in their twenties, single parents, or anyone seeking to avoid the daily commute.
Why young women embrace lazy girl jobs
Lazy girl jobs are a reaction to women opting out of a system they feel was not built by them or for them. Recent research from McKinsey highlights the disparities women face in the workplace, including the need to work harder than men to earn the same recognition. They are also more likely to experience harassment, face hiring bias, and encounter promotion obstacles. This leads to higher stress levels, as cited by Deloitte’s 2022 Women at Work study, in which 53% of women reported increased stress, with nearly half experiencing burnout.
Today’s young women watched their mothers’ journeys-working tirelessly without receiving equal pay for comparable work — and many just don’t want to walk down that road. Combine this with concerns about the future due to climate change and economic instability and these young women have chosen to prioritize mental health and happiness over higher-paying, stressful jobs. That’s laziness; it’s an act of radical self-care.
The double standard is evident
Lazy girl jobs have existed for years, or at least more leisurely iterations of them. Take the “three martini lunch”, those long leisurely business lunch breaks where expensive drinks are served and then deducted on tax returns as business expenses. Often the three martini lunch ended the workday all together because who can function after three martinis? One is associated with laziness and one with success. I’m guessing this glaring double standard has motivated this younger generation of women to proudly declare their desire for lazy girl jobs, challenging societal norms and biases.
Beyond lazy girl jobs
In the end, this generation really isn’t lazy. It would not be surprising if in several years many of these young women have transitioned from lazy girl jobs to more high power jobs. The difference will be unlike their mothers, they will demand equal pay for comparable work and workplaces that feel safe from harassment and diminishment. They will set strong boundaries which allow their careers to flourish. They will guard their peace and fend off burnout.
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It would also not be surprising if one day they looked around and saw that while the workplace was unfair to them, it’s a lot more unfair to those with less education. If they do, we will one day look back at this trend as an inflection point, a moment where after these young women thumbed their noses at the system, opted out for a while, but eventually some of them jumped back in the game, and changing the workplace for the better.
Opinions expressed here are the authors’ own.