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Why Women Are Quitting Their Jobs During a Pandemic
The rampant instability of our nation has caused some to face some cold, hard truths about their happiness
Last year, roughly five months into the pandemic, I considered quitting my job. To be frank, I just wasn’t happy there but I was deeply conflicted. I felt a profound sense of guilt. How could I be contemplating quitting my decent-paying, full-time job when millions were struggling, losing their jobs as the government allowed them to further descend into poverty and turmoil?
But the thing is, realizing that I wasn’t happy with my job is a “squeezing-the-toothpaste-out-of-tube” situation. I couldn’t go back. While Covid-19 took a lot from us collectively, it gave me a lot of perspective, and I knew I wasn’t alone.
Whether it’s the pandemic revealing toxic workplace culture (for both those that are remote and risking their lives to go to work) or deciding to pursue dreams they had on the back burner, many people are fed up with the jobs and making big changes. I spoke to several of them to understand why they choose to make such a big decision during such a fraught time.
Isabelle, 24, former associate editor at an LGBTQ publication
