It wasn't that long ago that women weren't even supposed to say the word ambition. It was a man's word. One article, published in a national magazine in 2010, even declared ambition the new "Scarlet A," stating that women felt ashamed to admit that they wanted power, success, and the corner-office spoils that come with them.
Obviously, it's not that women weren't ambitious. They just weren't proclaiming it. There are reasons for that, of course. According to research published in the journal Applied Psychology, women are penalized when they succeed at tasks traditionally associated with men. Where men get to be bumptious in boardrooms, ambitious women are flattened into unlikable shrills.
Nevertheless, we persisted. We got side hustles and leaned in and cracked glass ceilings and became the first woman to [insert a whole bunch of things]. Throughout the mid- to late 2010s we owned our ambition, letting it ooze out through a sea of classic girl-boss tropes: A woman's place is in the boardroom! The future is female! It was never a dress!
But then another shift happened: Shortly into the pandemic, we entered the "Age of Anti-Ambition," according to a piece that ran in the The New York Times last year. It was just one of a bazillion stories about how hustle culture is dead (heck, we wrote about it, too) and how we have entered an anti-work era. Nap dresses and cottagecore went viral. Give us our #SoftLife.
The articles weren't wrong. In my personal life, I saw it, too. When a friend in her mid-30s left her enviable "dream" job, her coworker sent her an email saying she hoped she was on to bigger and better
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
“THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF BECOMING A MEDIOCRE CRAFTER"
In her new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking, author Amanda Montell explores the state of the modern mind. This exclusive excerpt examines why we're obsessed with things that are handmade.
Field of Dreams
While agriculture has historically been a male-dominated industry, a new crop of farmers is working to make the community more diverse, inclusive, and cool.
On Pointe
As a dancer with the New York City Ballet, India Bradley knows a good performance-and that the outfit plays a role.
MASTERS OF THEIR CRAFT
In today's murky fashion landscape of discourse and 'cores, to be a revolutionary is to tune out the chatter and focus on your skill. Here, a vanguard group of designers who prioritize their artistry above all else.
CAMERA, KIRSTEN
After a two-year hiatus, the actress is back where she wants to be: the big screen.
Whiskey Business
Fawn Weaver, the founder of Uncle Nearest spirits, is doing more than just raising a glass—she’s raising awareness.
The 700-Mile Journey to Get an Abortion
As states continue to enact harmful legislation that restricts access to reproductive healthcare, a network of pilots is flying people across the country to get services they need. Marie Claire reports from the air.
INSIDE THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF THE WIZ
The famed show is back on Broadway, and with it, a dazzling new group of creatives. Before the curtains go up, writer Amber Ruffin gathers the cast to discuss the magic of making the musical.
RAISING THE BAR
Despite endless body wash options, the art of luxury soap making hasn't slipped away. Many beauty brands are leaning into the centuries-old product, while elevating it with unique scents and ingredients.
What Really Happened to Jessica Savitch?
In the 40 years since her death, the pioneering newscaster has become an Icarus-like parable, a woman who was punished for her outsize ambition. She was one of the most powerful names in news, until one disastrous broadcast tarnished her golden image. In an exclusive report, her friends and family speak out about what everyone got wrong about her life.
