New York Magazine contains a long, poignant essay on the "plight" of Millennial professional women.
As Lisa Miller explains, they were driven by ambition, did all the right things to get there, and yes, they did achieve solid success.
But, then, one day they wake up and get it: It's still a man's world. They are more than tokens. But they are still not equal. Not in compensation. Not in numbers in plum jobs. Not in leadership positions.
And, they can add: And, not in the percentage of those nominated by the Trump Administration to be U.S. Attorney. That's the title Preet Bharara had held before being abruptly fired by Donald Trump.
On Abovethelaw, lawyer-journalist Kathryn Rubino reports that only one of the 42 nominees for U.S. Attorney is a female. That's Jessie Liu. The Obama Administration had nominated 12 females.
Why this is a kick in the pants to women is that the U.S. Attorney represents a feeder pool for future judges, U.S. senators, and partners in BigLaw. Bharara still has access to those big jobs.
What Miller muses about is that young professional women might turn against the American (unofficial) religion of work. Then, where does that leave the nation? Only half the population will be living by the ethos of the Calvinistic work ethic.
Among both sexes it's already happening.
Work has become irrelevant to former lawyer Peter Cohen in my short short story. Here you can read it.
A growing number of those who had to navigate serial layoffs, especially in financial services, tell me they have turned to their hobbies for the satisfaction professional life used to bring. I bump into them when they ask for placement on my blogs to help turn those interests into side hustles.
Me? For about a decade I couldn't shake off the shame of being laid off from middle management. My dream of parachuting into the C-suite was dead. Meanwhile, though, I leveraged the work ethic into launching and operating a communications boutique.
To this day, work still remains at the center of my life. Yes, I am part of the generation-Baby Boomer-which isn't retiring.
We came of professional age at a very different time.
We women were pleased to even be in Corporate America, with all its professional development, interesting tasks, and perks. Sure the men moved ahead in greater numbers and higher up the ladder than we did. But, we (I was a liberal arts major) were in. Our mothers and professors never predicted that.
The game was not as dog-eat-dog as it is now. Others helped us. Colleagues and bosses became life-long friends.
Of course, work could be everything. I can't imagine living without plenty of it.
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