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How Cultural Shifts & The Tradwife Movement Impacted the working mom exodus of 2025
Didn’t think the Tradwife Movement would make its way to U.S. workplaces? It’s here. Here’s what we can do about it.
Half of Americans want a return to traditional gender roles. But here’s the breakdown that should worry you: 60% of men vs. 40% of women.
That’s a 20-point gender gap in how we view gender roles—and it’s not just happening on social media. It’s affecting workplaces, career advancement, and the choices mothers feel forced to make every single day.
What if the tradwife trend isn’t just aesthetic content—what if it’s quietly normalizing sexism at work and making your “mom guilt” even worse?
In this episode, I’m unpacking how cultural shifts toward traditional gender roles are pushing women out of the workforce. But here’s what gets me fired up: Job sharing is one of the most powerful tools to fight back with real equity—at work AND at home.
As a feminist and gender equity champion who deeply believes in equality at home with partners sharing the load, this one hits close to home.
Why This Series Matters
Systems are being dismantled. Progress is being rolled back. With DEI under attack, the political climate unstable, and AI infiltrating everything, we need to understand what’s really driving women out—and create our own solutions.
Because we can’t afford to wait. And with job sharing, you don’t have to. You create your own path—with a partner, not AI.
In Episode 53, you’ll DISCOVER:
- The polling data revealing the gender divide (and why the Gen Z gap is 19 points!)
- Why the tradwife movement is gaining traction—the 5 forces driving it
- 4 major ways this cultural shift is affecting your workplace right now
- 3 things employers can do to combat these shifts and keep women in leadership
- 3 strategic moves for working mothers navigating cultural pressure
- The secret hidden benefit of job sharing: organic gender equality at home (without fighting about it)
- My personal story of how job sharing with a 6-month-old changed everything—including my marriage dynamics
The Data You Need to Know
A September 2025 poll of over 20,000 Americans found:
- Republican men: 87% support traditional roles
- Married men: 62% vs. married women: 47%
- Dads: 67% vs. moms: 52%
The movement isn’t just online—it’s shaping workplace expectations, reinforcing the “maternal wall” bias, and providing cover for sexist behaviors in professional settings.
Here’s What Most People Don’t Realize
When you job share at work, something unexpected happens at home: You start applying the practice everywhere. Trusting your partner to parent their way. Giving up control. Sharing the mental load. And it happens organically, without the fighting and negotiating.
I started job sharing when my daughter was 6 months old. My husband became the lead parent on my work days—drop-off, pick-up, sick calls. They didn’t even know me at the daycare. That equal partnership we built in those early years? It’s held up through high school and beyond.
What Comes Next In This Series
Over the next 5 episodes, we’ll explore the problem AND the solutions—what mothers can do, what employers should do, and how job sharing addresses each challenge.
- Next Episode (Part 3): The childcare crisis & affordability—heartbreaking choices families are being forced to make
- Full Series: Every other Tuesday through Dec 30
- ICYMI: Part 1: RTO Mandates
Featured:
- “Most Men Want a Return to Traditional Gender Roles, but Women Aren’t So Sure”, The 19th* (September 2025)
- McKinsey Women in the Workplace Report
- “American Women Are Leaving the Work Force. Why?” by Jessica Grose, The New York Times
- Eve Rodsky’s Fair Play framework
Resources & Links Mentioned:
- Join Work Muse Facebook Community: Job Share, Live Life + Slay Work
- The Work Muse Guide to Job Sharing – Your free roadmap to creating a job share ✅
More From Me:
- Share your thoughts: DM me on LinkedIn
- Follow Work Muse LinkedIn
Share This Episode!
Know someone who needs to hear that traditional gender roles aren’t destiny—and that job sharing creates real equality? Send this their way.
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️New episodes drop every other Tuesday through December 30! Thanks for tuning in to Jobshare Revolution podcast.
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Melissa Nicholson job shared for nearly a decade and is the Founder & CEO of Work Muse. Work Muse drives the adoption of job sharing in business as a source of competitive advantage while helping individuals find work-life balance. Join the #JobshareRevolution here.
