The “SheChange.” What's really happening to women at work.
The headlines say women are leaving the workforce, but the full story is more complicated, and more urgent. A new Catalyst report found that more than 455,000 women exited the U.S. workforce between January and August of 2025. The top culprit?It’s not ambition, it's structure. 42% of women who voluntarily left cited caregiving responsibilities, including the cost of childcare, as the driving force. Meanwhile, women of color bore an outsized share of job losses, 53% of women from marginalized racial and ethnic groups reported being laid off, compared to 37% of White women.
Those still in the workforce aren't exactly thriving either. The 2025 Women in the Workplace report found that for the first time, there is a notable ambition gap. 😔 Women are less interested in being promoted than men. But here's the catch, when women receive the same career support that men do, this gap in ambition to advance falls away. The problem isn't women's drive, it's the "broken rung," with entry-level women around half as likely as men at their level to have multiple sponsors or a senior-level sponsor, the kind of advocate who most influences career advancement.
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Some advocates are pushing back on the "shecession" framing entirely. Take The Lead argues this is a “SheChange,” women aren't leaving work, they're leaving workplaces that don't work for them. And the economic data backs up the cost of ignoring them. The Grant Thornton Women in Business 2026 report found that mid-market firms committed to gender equality and planning new measures saw 73% grow revenue by more than 5% in 2025, proof that investing in women isn't just the right thing to do, it's a competitive advantage.
The Great Stay may be keeping many workers frozen in place out of fear, but women are increasingly refusing to accept "fine." The message from the data is clear, workplaces that want to retain and attract women must act--on flexibility, on pay, on sponsorship, and on caregiving support.
I earmarked this section to spotlight women-led independent media, other places to get sharp, women-centered news beyond the usual feeds. I regularly pull from Ms. Magazine, The 19th News, and Women’s eNews, but I wanted to dig deeper and find more nuanced content.
What I found was disheartening: at least ten of the publications I stumbled on in my research have since gone under. So please, support the ones you love while they're still here.
Without further ado, ditch the doomscroll. These six independent publications are doing the real work--sharp, honest, and unapologetically women-led.
The Gentlewoman: Twice-yearly, high-profile, and zero fluff. Profiles of women who are actually doing something. Read more →
CRWN Magazine: For the educated, well-traveled Black woman who's always been at the table, even when the room pretended otherwise. Read more →
The Persistent: Essays, ideas, and conversations that push back on sexist tropes, gendered defaults, and societal stereotypes. A must-read for women who refuse to stay quiet. Read more →
Lilith Magazine: Independent, Jewish, and frankly feminist since 1976. Social justice, culture, and gender--covered with depth and zero compromise. Read more →
Mslexia: A quarterly masterclass in the business and craft of writing. Expert advice, extraordinary poetry and prose, and a directory of 60+ competitions and editors actively seeking fresh talent. Read more →
Azeema: Biannual and London-based, centering women and non-binary people from the SWANA region. Bold, rooted, and defiantly visible. Read more →
Your words hold power.
Women's natural communication style, warm, personal, and emotionally resonant, is one of their greatest tools for influence. Research on nearly 1,100 TED Talks found that a female-typical language style drives greater online popularity and social influence, proving the way women speak is a strength, not a weakness. Pair that warmth with confident delivery, and you can command any room.
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