What “Lazy Girl Jobs” Say About Gen Z, Privilege And Work Ethic

The WSJ crowned this the "hottest new career goal of the moment:" Lazy Girl Jobs is a term used to describe "low-stress, low-effort roles that pay decently well (think $60-$80k) while allowing plenty of freedom and flexibility." It has many of the hallmarks of an anti-trend, most notably the philosophy that sometimes leaning out instead of leaning in is the best way to achieve the elusive balance between having a job and having a life.

The term is widely credited to 26 year old content creator Gabrielle Judge, who chose the provocative term as a clever ploy to garner attention. Clearly it's working. The term has plenty of critics who note that this is exactly the wrong mentality to encourage in young women and will probably adversely affect their careers. Not to mention the overflow of unacknowledged economic privilege baked into the concept. Yet as the Wall Street Journal article notes:

"Many young women who have branded themselves 'lazy girls' online insist they are anything but. After growing up hearing about the horrors of overwork, they say they're happy in their jobs and celebrate striking work-life balance gold."

Is this really the "antidote to quiet quitting"? Are the "horrors of overwork" really something to be afraid of? Or is this ill-timed misogynistic advice conveniently getting shared just as professional women are making wide-spread gains in the working world? Supporters of this idea (including Judge herself) believe that it's a symbol of just how much the next generation is rethinking the nature and necessity of work itself.