Two years ago, pandemic-era lockdowns began a mass exodus in the workplace, as women left in droves, either choosing or forced to prioritize caregiving.
As official states of emergency expire, what—if anything—has changed?
Author: Wendy J. Fox
Wendy J. Fox is the author of four books of fiction, including the novel If the Ice Had Held and the forthcoming collection What If We Were Somewhere Else. She has written for The Rumpus, Buzzfeed, Self, Business Insider, and Ms. and her work has appeared in literary magazines including Washington Square, Euphony, and Painted Bride Quarterly. More at www.wendyjfox.com.
Return to Work Is Happening in Hybrid Form—But Is Hybrid Working for Women?
The structure of employment in the U.S. has long been untenable for anyone who has caregiving duties, but now that hybrid work is here—the flexibility of which women have been advocating for basically forever—is it enough?
A stark contrast to the benefits of hybrid work: It is precisely the people who need hybrid schedules the most who will end up paying the highest price.
We Keep Hearing About The Labor Shortage. How’s That Working Out For Women Over 40?
The pandemic reminded everyone that women will sacrifice their own professional future and emotional well-being to take care of their loved ones. Put aging in the mix, and it’s a double-whammy for women who want to earn.
A Tip For Women Working From Home: Turn The Camera Off
For employees who identify as female and are feeling the grind of keeping up appearances, this is perhaps the most salient tip for working from home of all: Simply decline being on video.
Women Aren’t “Opting Out” of the Work Force. They’re Being Forced Out
Crushed by the load of caregiving, women are leaving workplaces in droves, and the wage gap is an important motivator.
“A more accurate description of ‘opting out’ is in fact women being forced out of work—forced out by companies that never really wanted us there anyway, forced out by managers who are not amenable to being flexible, forced out by partners who are not willing to pick up their part of the load at home, and forced out by constantly being ground down through silencing, erasure and plain old everyday sexism in our paid work.”