Have you heard the term “Lazy Girl Job”? It has been spreading across social media platforms, particularly TikTok, sparking discussions about work culture, gender roles, and work-life balance. Gen-Z has drawn attention to how the line between work and life has traditionally been almost indistinguishable and how this has to end.
But… what is a ‘Lazy Girl Job’? How does someone get one?
Gabrielle Judge, who goes by her online alias of antiworkgirlboss, coined the term ‘Lazy Girl Job’ in 2022 by spreading the word on her social media platforms. A ‘Lazy Girl Job’ is a well-paid position with minimal emotional investment. They involve tasks that can be easily managed without overtime or demanding responsibilities. These roles provide room for work-life balance. Gabrielle stated in her TED Talk, “You can do this by envisioning your job as so work-life balance friendly that it feels lazy.”
This mindset contradicts “hustle culture”, which champions constant productivity and the relentless pursuit of success. With a ‘Lazy Girl Job’, there is a strong focus on prioritising your non-work self over your career.
The term has been criticised since ‘lazy’ connotes avoiding challenges and progression in your role and unproductivity. Despite the name, the idea of the movement is not to remain stagnant in your career. Instead, it searches for a role that aligns with your values and allows you to maintain a healthy work-life balance. With a ‘Lazy Girl Job’, you can complete your tasks within a time frame without being micromanaged and pushed to burn out. It’s important to recognise that the idea of a ‘Lazy Girl Job’ is subjective. A role may be low-stress to one person, but another person might find it consuming and stressful. It’s best to approach finding a ‘Lazy Girl Job’ as a personal journey, as it should be all about what suits you and what success looks like to you.
Gabrielle created a free list of 200 Lazy Girl Jobs to inspire people to find a role that suits them and their qualifications. Some roles need training or degrees, but they are deemed as ‘Lazy Girl Jobs’ that allow for free time outside of work with less stress. Some STEAM-related roles on the list include:
- Data Analyst
- Analytics Coordinator
- Research Assistant
Whether you agree or disagree with the idea of a ‘Lazy Girl Job’, the movement has sparked conversations about the future of work. As the job market continues to evolve, particularly after COVID-19, we will likely see a shift towards more flexible and employee-centric work models which value employee well-being.
This article was written by Tyriah, one of our summer 2024 interns.
