Where did the term come from?
According to the BBC, the term first appeared as recently as 2023 and was coined by Gabrielle Judge, otherwise known on Instagram as "antiworkgirlboss". It refers to the simple, undemanding office work mostly done by girls and young women. The young female employees in question are definitely not overly ambitious when performing their work. Their jobs are very simple, usually involve very little responsibility, and the women who do them make no secret of the fact they are interested only in the money, not any deeper meaning or career advancement. Women in these jobs do only the bare minimum necessary, spend most of their time idling, without any worries about the job itself, and are thus theoretically able to achieve a better work-life balance.
What does this trend say about the young generation?
First it is important to note that not everyone in the younger generation of workers identifies with this trend. But the fact the term has gained momentum shows the younger generation is perhaps a little fed up with "hustle culture", namely workaholism and constant learning and moving on. "Lazy girls" are thus another form of protest against a hyper-ambitious work culture and ever greater demands being put on workers. This anti-systemic approach thus sits alongside another trend, so-called "quiet quitting".
What does society have to say?
Some people consider "lazy girls" just a catchy term for irresponsible, workshy people who have not yet matured. For others, it is a warning sign that the younger generation has a completely different attitude and different values from the older one. Then there are those who see it as a logical and valid response to an overly workaholic work culture. Still others suggest "lazy girls" will soon disappear, being replaced by artificial intelligence.
Only time will tell if this term will disappear, or if it is a nascent movement that has its merits.
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