Why Women Are Prioritizing Autonomy Over Job Titles

Traditional career success has typically been defined by job titles, promotions, higher compensation, and corner offices in the corporate sector. These milestones have often been celebrated as the concluding indicator of career success.

However, those milestones can be just examples of accomplishments from your hard work, rather than being the absolute success your career gained. A PwC survey showed that 53% of employees find their job unfulfilling, which shows career success is more personal, because it’s rooted in prioritizing fulfillment, purpose, and ownership over one’s path, not just the job title that displays in your email signature.

According to a 2024 Women In The Workplace report, 8 in 10 employees find flexibility has improved over the past 10 years, making flexibility a new standard of career success for women exhausted by compact schedules and burnout. The pandemic-era shift to remote work helped many women realize they desire control over their time more than anything.

According to MSNBC, since 2020, 55% of women account for people who dropped out of the workforce, stemming from work challenges as a caregiver, even if it’s a two parent household. The prioritization of flexibility isn’t inactivity, but rather it’s a strategic move toward viability for women in the workplace.

Instead of waiting for a seat at the table, women are creating their own table. Wells Fargo’s 2024 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses report states that there are about 14 million women owned businesses in the United States, which is steadily rising because entrepreneurship allows for women to align their work with their purpose. Even viral news anchor turned content creator, Jeannette Reyes left her job to focus on her family and her brand which is now a seven-figure business. 

“[A] person takes charge of her career and protects herself by making sure her skill set is vast and variable,” executive coach Sarah Gibson shared

Women are ridding themselves of the idea of a “dream job” and embracing a diversified portfolio when it comes to their career. According to a 2024 H&R Block Outlook On Life study, 51% of Gen Z plan to monetize a hobby and 55% plan to learn a new skill or trade. Juggling multiple roles across various industries and career fields has become the new norm. These hobbies and skills can include content creating, rideshare driving, consulting, digital marketing and more. 

Take a look at some of these platforms:

• Fiverr
• Canva
• Youtube
• Substack

These platforms make it easy for women to share their diverse skills and build their portfolio. It shows a power move that highlights dexterity, creativity and ownership of your career growth on your terms. 

For many women, the real promotion is peace of mind. With rising awareness around mental health, more professionals are stepping back to protect their energy, even if it means letting go of a “dream title.”

According to The American Psychiatric Association Foundation’s Center for Workplace Mental Health, the cost of depression alone to the U.S. economy is more than $210 billion annually in absenteeism and lost productivity.

Women are opting out of work environments that stir up toxic work cultures and high demands.

According to the Mayo Clinic says, burnout isn’t a medical diagnosis. Although it’s not medically defined, job burnout is a real thing. You may experience job burnout symptoms such as lack of sleep, irritability, feeling drained, and even drinking more alcohol. A Future Forum Pulse study reports a 20% worse work-life balance and 40% more work-related stress and anxiety. Whether its declining a promotion, or taking an extended vacation, women are choosing balance over burnout.

Autonomy is not about loss of power. Rather prioritizing autonomy is about making better life decisions. For women professionals, freedom, flexibility, and mental clarity are the new standards of success. Your job title is no longer the single qualifying factor to your career success. The new defining factor is choosing the stance that owning your time is the supreme winning strategy.