Why "Having It All" Is Possible—But Isn't Worth It
Jun 19, 2024
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Former Executive Editor of Teen Vogue, Samhita Mukhopadhyay, discusses the myth of 'having it all' and challenges the idea of 'making it'. The podcast delves into societal expectations on women, toxic leadership, female ambition, and the impact of trickle-down feminism. It highlights the need for systemic changes, redefining success, and prioritizing well-being over traditional careerism.
Having it all often means doing it all, leading to burnout.
The podcast challenges traditional beliefs around women's success and roles.
Advocates for worker-centric workplaces and redefining success beyond corporate structures.
Deep dives
Challenging the Notion of Success and Fulfillment
Successful women who seemingly have it all reveal internal struggles despite external achievements. Samita Mukupadai, in her book 'The Myth of Making It,' questions the sustainability of success and the societal pressure to constantly work. She delves into the disconnect between career apex and personal dissociation, prompting a reevaluation of work-life balance.
The Fallacy of 'Having It All'
Exploring historical feminist works like Helen Gurley Brown's 'Having It All' and Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique,' the podcast highlights the evolving notions of success for women. The conversation challenges traditional beliefs around women's roles and the contemporary expectations of juggling career, family, and personal fulfillment.
Redefining Feminist Narratives and Work Culture
Discussing the 'girl boss' phenomenon, the podcast critiques the elitism in anti-'girl boss' discourse. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging diverse ambitions and the need to redefine success beyond traditional corporate structures. The narrative questions toxic work environments and advocates for a more inclusive, supportive workspace.
Collective Action and Workplace Reimagining
Focusing on systemic change, the podcast advocates for a shift towards worker-centric workplaces and challenges hierarchical power structures. Through examples of companies promoting fair pay, wellbeing, and creativity, it suggests reconsidering productivity and success measures in modern work environments.
Imagining a Better Future of Work
Encouraging imaginative alternatives to current work norms, the podcast raises the importance of resisting entrenched beliefs about work culture. It calls for a balance between individual agency and systemic change, highlighting the significance of designing inclusive, fulfilling work environments for a sustainable future.
There’s an expectation on women that we should be constantly striving to “have it all.” But as the pandemic laid bare, “having it all” usually just means “doing it all,” and doing it all...just doesn't work.
Samhita Mukhopadhyay, former Executive Editor of Teen Vogue and author of The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning, joins me this week for an honest conversation about where we go from here—and what type of reckoning our workplaces and family lives face as women respond to structures that no longer make (never made?) sense.