Millennial women are exhausted, disillusioned, and feel let down after a lifetime of being told they could ‘have it all’. At work, they feel unsupported and undervalued. At home, they are still expected to take on the heavier load of housework and child-rearing. No matter how much they do, there is always more work to be done. 

These women have stretched themselves too thin trying to achieve unrealistic expectations society has piled onto them. Now the dominant generation (outnumbering baby boomers) millennials make up the largest share of the working-age population. As young girls, they grew up hearing the slogans “Girls can do anything” and “Girl Power”. Unlike any other generation thus far, they were raised with much higher expectations. More than 44% of young women (aged 25 to 34) in Canada have a university degree, compared to 33% of young men. Young women are also more likely to have a master’s or PhD, according to the article “Millennial women are not okay” written by Ann Hui. 

Women between the ages of 25 and 45 are the new “sandwich generation”, those that are forced to juggle the competing stresses of caring for young children and aging parents. In the first year of the pandemic approximately 100,000 women dropped out of the labor force entirely and more than three-quarters of Canadian women said that they have considered quitting their job. Others have pulled back from advancing their careers. “The burnout women face affects us all. Because whether or not you’re one of them, you likely rely on them.” – “Millennial women are not okay” written by Ann Hui. 

Despite the efforts of the generations of women that came before them, the wage gap for millennial women remains at 90 cents (or lower) for every dollar a man earns. This gap persists across many industries, roles, and levels of expertise. This gap widens for women with children, women at the executive level, and for racialized and Indigenous women. Getting a promotion or a raise at work won’t solve the burnout issue, but it would help to make women feel more valued in the workplace.  

Of course, millennial women are not alone, according to a survey by Robert Half, 40% of Canadians reported feeling burnt out last year; the predictable outcome of a world where everyone, everywhere, is working all the time. 

While we continue to push for the big changes, it is just as important to change the way we live our lives every day, make decisions to be kind to ourselves and appreciate the people we depend on. Sometimes the best way women (and men) can care for others, it to take care of themselves first.  

We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Tracey, Paige & Dana 

Source https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-millennial-women-burnout-stress/?login=true

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