[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fRdy4Ph-Pr3_YSRANo4UELfNtlCWM9i03GPoJzUPa93A":3,"$fnuY2gl_SQLGTvpN-pE7mBkzhEvmKR1-c0-Z1xSrB4zA":37,"$fKPqd-yWu6Pp3iYnaTzktuvD6rVSf1Uj5Y1PIJcgraIo":129},{"data":4,"meta":33},[5,9,13,17,21,25,29],{"id":6,"name":7,"slug":8},1,"Career & Finance","career-and-finance",{"id":10,"name":11,"slug":12},11,"After Hours","after-hours",{"id":14,"name":15,"slug":16},3,"Wellness","wellness",{"id":18,"name":19,"slug":20},12,"Style","style",{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24},4,"Voices","voices",{"id":26,"name":27,"slug":28},2,"Mindset","mindset",{"id":30,"name":31,"slug":32},10,"Nourish","food",{"pagination":34},{"page":6,"pageSize":35,"pageCount":6,"total":36},25,7,{"data":38,"meta":127},[39],{"id":40,"title":41,"createdAt":42,"updatedAt":43,"publishedAt":44,"content":45,"slug":46,"coffees":14,"seo_title":41,"keywords":47,"seo_desc":48,"featuredImage":49,"category":93,"author":97,"img":126},58,"Women in STEM: The Gender Gap, The Barriers, and The Women Breaking Through","2021-03-12T14:47:05.228Z","2025-12-15T05:12:07.819Z","2021-03-17T15:35:30.294Z","\u003Cp>When we picture a scientist, an engineer, or a tech founder, who do we see? For most people—whether they admit it or not—the image that comes to mind is male. This isn't an accident. It's the result of decades of cultural conditioning, systemic barriers, and a self-reinforcing cycle that keeps \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fwhy-women-are-underrepresented-in-leadership-positions\">women underrepresented in the fields\u003C\u002Fa> that are shaping our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—encompasses the industries driving innovation, commanding high salaries, and solving the world's most pressing problems. Yet women remain dramatically underrepresented in these fields. They earn fewer degrees, hold fewer jobs, and leave the industry at higher rates than men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understanding why this gap exists—and what's being done to close it—matters not just for women seeking STEM careers, but for everyone who benefits from diverse perspectives in innovation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>The Numbers: Where Women Stand in STEM Today\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The statistics paint a clear picture of imbalance. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.census.gov\u002Ftopics\u002Femployment\u002Findustry-occupation\u002Fabout\u002Femployment.html\">According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau\u003C\u002Fa> and various international studies:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Women make up approximately 28% of the STEM workforce globally, despite representing nearly half of the overall workforce  \u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>In computing and mathematical occupations, women hold only about 26% of jobs  \u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>In engineering, the number drops to around 16%  \u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Women earn only about 21% of engineering bachelor's degrees and 19% of computer science degrees  \u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>The percentage of women in tech has actually declined from 35% in 1990 to around 26% today  \u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Women leave STEM careers at significantly higher rates than men—45% of women leave within the first decade compared to 17% of men\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>The picture isn't uniform across all STEM fields. Women have reached near parity in life sciences and are well-represented in healthcare-related sciences. But in computer science, engineering, and physics, the gender gap remains stubbornly wide—and in some cases, is actually getting worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Why the Gap Exists: It Starts Early\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The underrepresentation of women in STEM isn't about ability. Girls perform as well as boys in math and science through primary school—and in many countries, outperform them. The gap emerges later, shaped by social forces that compound over time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stereotypes begin in childhood. From an early age, children absorb messages about what's "for boys" and what's "for girls." Construction sets and science kits get marketed to boys; dolls and craft supplies to girls. Studies show that by age six, girls are less likely than boys to believe members of their gender are "really, really smart"—and this belief gap correlates with reduced interest in activities described as being for smart people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fconfidence-gap-women-underestimate-their-abilities\">confidence gap\u003C\u002Fa> widens in adolescence. Even when girls perform equally well in math and science, they report lower confidence in their abilities than boys. This confidence gap affects course selection, with girls less likely to take advanced STEM classes even when qualified. Teachers, often unconsciously, may reinforce these patterns by calling on boys more frequently in science classes or expressing surprise when girls excel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lack of visible role models matters. It's hard to be what you can't see. When textbooks feature mostly male scientists, when tech companies are led by men, when the "genius" archetype in popular culture is almost always male, girls receive a constant message that STEM isn't for them. Research shows that exposure to female role models in STEM significantly increases girls' interest and confidence in these fields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Barriers in the Workplace\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Women who do enter STEM fields face a different set of challenges—ones that help explain why so many eventually leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fmind-the-gap-the-fight-for-gender-equal-compensation\">The pay gap persists\u003C\u002Fa>. Women in STEM earn approximately 80-85 cents for every dollar earned by men in comparable positions. While this is slightly better than the overall workforce gender pay gap, it's still significant—and it compounds over a career, affecting lifetime earnings, retirement savings, and financial security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002Fstem_women_jobs_1193e3d9df.jpg\" alt=\"stem-women-jobs.jpg\">\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-to-recover-from-a-toxic-workplace\">Workplace culture can be hostile\u003C\u002Fa>. According to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pewresearch.org\u002Fsocial-trends\u002F2018\u002F01\u002F09\u002Fwomen-and-men-in-stem-often-at-odds-over-workplace-equity\u002F\">Pew Research Center\u003C\u002Fa>, 50% of women in STEM jobs have experienced gender discrimination at work. This includes being treated as less competent, receiving less support from leadership, earning less than male counterparts, and being passed over for assignments. In \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fwomen-in-male-dominated-industries\">male-dominated workplaces\u003C\u002Fa>, women report higher rates of harassment, isolation, and having their contributions overlooked or attributed to male colleagues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The "prove it again" phenomenon. Research shows that women in STEM must repeatedly prove their competence in ways that men don't. Their mistakes are remembered longer, their successes attributed to luck rather than skill, and their expertise questioned more frequently. This constant need to re-establish credibility is exhausting and contributes to burnout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fis-pregnancy-a-career-setback\">The motherhood penalty\u003C\u002Fa>. Women with children face additional barriers. STEM careers often demand long hours and inflexible schedules that clash with caregiving responsibilities—responsibilities that still fall disproportionately on women. Mothers in STEM are more likely to reduce hours, step back from leadership tracks, or leave the field entirely. Meanwhile, fathers in STEM face no comparable penalty and may even benefit from a "fatherhood bonus" in how they're perceived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The "leaky pipeline." The cumulative effect of these barriers is what researchers call the "leaky pipeline"—women drop out of STEM at every stage, from education to early career to senior leadership. Each leak reduces the pool of women available for the next level, resulting in the dramatic underrepresentation at the top: women hold only about 11% of executive positions in Silicon Valley companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Women Who Changed STEM History\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Despite these barriers, women have made groundbreaking contributions to science and technology throughout history—often without receiving proper credit. Here are just a few:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marie Curie (1867-1934) remains the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences—Physics and Chemistry. Her research on radioactivity laid the foundation for modern nuclear science and cancer treatment. She accomplished this while facing \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002F10-sexist-quotes-every-woman-has-heard-1\">blatant sexism\u003C\u002Fa> that nearly denied her the first Nobel Prize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) was a NASA mathematician whose calculations were critical to the success of the first U.S. crewed spaceflights. As a Black woman working in the segregated South, she faced both racial and gender discrimination—yet her work was so trusted that John Glenn specifically requested she verify the computer's calculations before his orbital flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Finspirational-women-ada-lovelace\">Ada Lovelace\u003C\u002Fa> (1815-1852) is considered the world's first computer programmer. Working with Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine, she wrote what is recognized as the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine—a century before modern computers existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Frosalind-franklin-the-scientist-behind-2-nobel-prizes\">Rosalind Franklin\u003C\u002Fa> (1920-1958) produced the X-ray images that were crucial to understanding the structure of DNA. Her work was used without proper acknowledgment by Watson and Crick, who won the Nobel Prize for the discovery. Franklin died before the prize was awarded and has only recently received proper recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fp\u002FDGycBCbtUPR\u002F?img_index=1\">Grace Hopper\u003C\u002Fa> (1906-1992) was a computer scientist and U.S. Navy rear admiral who developed the first compiler for a computer programming language. She popularized the term "debugging" and was instrumental in developing COBOL, one of the first high-level programming languages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000), known primarily as a Hollywood actress, co-invented frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology during World War II. This invention became the foundation for modern WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS technology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002F636452227991000663_1440_Hedy_Lamarr_98486e1923.jpg\" alt=\"hedy lamarr woman in the STEM fields\">\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshare.google\u002Funj5MlQZFBVUDXllg\">Photo\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Women Leading STEM Today\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Contemporary women are continuing to break barriers and lead innovation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett was the lead scientist on the team that developed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Her work on coronavirus spike proteins was instrumental in the rapid vaccine development that has saved millions of lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwynne Shotwell serves as President and COO of SpaceX, overseeing the company's day-to-day operations and all customer and strategic relations. She's been instrumental in making SpaceX a leader in commercial space travel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dr. Fei-Fei Li is a computer science professor at Stanford and co-director of Stanford's Human-Centered AI Institute. Her work on ImageNet revolutionized computer vision and accelerated the deep learning revolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whitney Wolfe Herd founded Bumble and became the youngest woman to take a company public in 2021. She transformed the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fis-dating-app-burnout-a-real-thing\">dating app industry\u003C\u002Fa> by giving women the power to make the first move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>What's Being Done to Close the Gap\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Recognition of the problem has led to numerous initiatives aimed at increasing women's participation in STEM:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Educational programs like Girls Who Code, Black Girls CODE, and STEM Like a Girl aim to reach girls early, providing coding education, mentorship, and exposure to STEM careers. These programs have reached millions of girls and significantly increased their interest in technology careers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corporate initiatives at major tech companies include targeted recruitment, mentorship programs, employee resource groups for women, and efforts to address bias in hiring and promotion. Some companies publish diversity reports and set public targets for increasing female representation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Policy changes, including paid parental leave, flexible work arrangements, and on-site childcare, help address the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fhobbies-for-work-life-balance\">work-life balance\u003C\u002Fa> challenges that disproportionately affect women. Some countries have implemented quotas for women on corporate boards and in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-most-effective-leadership-books-you-will-ever-read\">leadership positions\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Networking and support organizations like Women in Technology International, Society of Women Engineers, Association for Women in Science, and Anita Borg Institute provide professional development, mentorship, and community for women at all career stages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Advice for Women Entering or Advancing in STEM\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>If you're considering a STEM career or working to advance in one, here's practical advice from women who've navigated these fields:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Find your community.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Connect with other women in your field through professional organizations, online communities, or informal networks. Having people who understand your experiences and can offer advice is invaluable. Mentors who've navigated similar \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Freal-stories-my-biggest-challenge-at-work\">challenges\u003C\u002Fa> can help you avoid pitfalls and seize opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Document your achievements.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Keep a record of your accomplishments, positive feedback, and contributions. Women often undersell their achievements or have them attributed to others. A running list helps during performance reviews and salary negotiations, and combats imposter syndrome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Negotiate—always.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Women are less likely to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=33RHmOzcNPo&t=576s\">negotiate salaries\u003C\u002Fa> and promotions, contributing to the pay gap. Research market rates, practice your pitch, and ask for what you're worth. The discomfort of negotiating is temporary; the financial impact lasts your entire career.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FStem_header_1280x640_3d7a9b76eb.jpg\" alt=\"Stem-header-1280x640.jpg\">\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshare.google\u002FwqDrzEVKdF3d64i9w\">Photo\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Speak up and take credit.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Don't let your contributions go unnoticed. Use "I" statements ("I led this project," not "We did this project"). If someone talks over you, circle back: "As I was saying..." If your idea gets attributed to someone else, reclaim it: "Thanks for building on my suggestion."\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Choose employers carefully.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Research the company culture before accepting positions. Look at leadership diversity, parental leave policies, pay equity data, and employee reviews. Ask about retention rates for women. A company that talks about diversity but can't demonstrate it may not be worth your time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Don't internalize the bias.\u003C\u002Fstrong> When you face discrimination or microaggressions, recognize them for what they are—systemic problems, not personal failures. Imposter syndrome affects many women in STEM; remind yourself that you earned your place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Why Gender Diversity in STEM Matters for Everyone\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Closing the gender gap in STEM isn't just about fairness—it's about better outcomes for everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diverse teams produce better innovation. Research consistently shows that teams with diverse perspectives generate more creative solutions and avoid groupthink. When the people designing technology, conducting research, and solving problems all share similar backgrounds, they inevitably have blind spots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Products designed without women's input often fail women. Crash test dummies were designed around male bodies, making cars less safe for women. Voice recognition systems trained primarily on male voices struggle to understand women. Medical research conducted primarily on men has led to treatments that work less well for women. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.edl.gr\u002Fblog\u002Feuropean-ai-act-marketing\">AI systems\u003C\u002Fa> trained on biased data perpetuate discrimination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The economic stakes are enormous. With STEM jobs growing faster than the overall job market and commanding higher salaries, excluding half the population from these opportunities limits economic mobility and widens inequality. Countries and companies that fail to tap the full talent pool fall behind those that do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barriers women face in STEM are real, but they're not immutable. They were created by human choices, and human choices can dismantle them. Every girl who sees a woman scientist and thinks "I could do that," every company that examines its hiring practices, every policy that supports working parents—these are steps toward a future where the field you choose isn't limited by your gender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Frequently Asked Questions\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Ch3>What percentage of STEM workers are women?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Women make up approximately 28% of the STEM workforce globally. However, this varies significantly by field—women represent nearly half of workers in life sciences but only about 16% in engineering and 26% in computing and mathematics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Why are there so few women in STEM?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>The underrepresentation of women in STEM results from multiple factors: gender stereotypes that begin in childhood, lack of visible role models, confidence gaps that develop in adolescence, workplace discrimination, hostile work environments in male-dominated fields, and work-life balance challenges that disproportionately affect women with caregiving responsibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>What is the gender pay gap in STEM?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Women in STEM earn approximately 80-85 cents for every dollar earned by men in comparable positions. The gap varies by field and career level, and tends to widen over time, particularly after women have children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Which STEM fields have the most women?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Women are best represented in biological and life sciences, where they make up nearly 50% of the workforce. Healthcare-related sciences, psychology, and social sciences also have strong female representation. The fields with the lowest female representation are engineering, computer science, and physics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Who was the first woman in STEM?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Women have contributed to science throughout history, though many were unrecognized. Hypatia of Alexandria (c. 360-415 AD) is one of the earliest known female mathematicians and astronomers. In modern era, Marie Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (1903) and remains the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>What organizations support women in STEM?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Major organizations include Girls Who Code, Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Association for Women in Science (AWIS), Women in Technology International (WITI), Anita Borg Institute, Black Girls CODE, and National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT). These offer mentorship, networking, scholarships, and advocacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Is the gender gap in STEM improving?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Progress has been mixed. Women's representation in life sciences has improved significantly. However, in computer science, women's share of the workforce has actually declined since the 1990s. Engineering has seen modest gains but remains heavily male-dominated. Overall progress is slow—at current rates, some estimate it would take decades to reach gender parity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n","the-woman-in-the-stem-fields","women in STEM, gender gap in STEM, women in technology, women in science, STEM careers for women, female scientists, women in engineering, STEM gender disparity","Women make up only 28% of the STEM workforce. Learn why the gender gap persists, which fields are improving, and how women are breaking barriers in science and tech.",{"id":50,"name":51,"alternativeText":52,"caption":52,"width":53,"height":54,"formats":55,"hash":87,"ext":57,"mime":60,"size":88,"url":89,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":91,"updatedAt":92},123,"women-in-stem.jpg","",1600,900,{"large":56,"small":66,"medium":73,"thumbnail":80},{"ext":57,"url":58,"hash":59,"mime":60,"name":61,"path":62,"size":63,"width":64,"height":65},".jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_women_in_stem_65e2083861.jpg","large_women_in_stem_65e2083861","image\u002Fjpeg","large_women-in-stem.jpg",null,125.36,1000,563,{"ext":57,"url":67,"hash":68,"mime":60,"name":69,"path":62,"size":70,"width":71,"height":72},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_women_in_stem_65e2083861.jpg","small_women_in_stem_65e2083861","small_women-in-stem.jpg",39.41,500,281,{"ext":57,"url":74,"hash":75,"mime":60,"name":76,"path":62,"size":77,"width":78,"height":79},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_women_in_stem_65e2083861.jpg","medium_women_in_stem_65e2083861","medium_women-in-stem.jpg",75.18,750,422,{"ext":57,"url":81,"hash":82,"mime":60,"name":83,"path":62,"size":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_women_in_stem_65e2083861.jpg","thumbnail_women_in_stem_65e2083861","thumbnail_women-in-stem.jpg",11.6,245,138,"women_in_stem_65e2083861",269.64,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fwomen_in_stem_65e2083861.jpg","aws-s3","2021-03-13T09:22:56.193Z","2021-03-13T09:22:56.208Z",{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24,"createdAt":94,"updatedAt":95,"publishedAt":96},"2020-12-24T19:16:11.810Z","2025-10-01T19:49:12.086Z","2024-06-26T07:27:59.419Z",{"id":14,"name":98,"slug":99,"instagram":100,"facebook":101,"bio":102,"createdAt":103,"updatedAt":104,"publishedAt":105,"linkedIn":106,"avatar":107,"avatarImg":125},"Amalia","amalia","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Famalia.ka__\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Famalia.kakampakou","Amalia is the Teacher. She loves what she does. She is addicted to detail: if it isn’t perfect, it’s not good enough. She loves her job and she loves writing. She wants to learn new things and she is very curious about everything. Her favorite question: Why? She usually answers the questions by herself, though.","2020-12-24T18:58:59.684Z","2020-12-27T14:58:33.474Z","2020-12-24T18:59:01.010Z","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Famalia-kakampakou-963945202\u002F",{"id":14,"name":108,"alternativeText":109,"caption":109,"width":110,"height":110,"formats":111,"hash":120,"ext":113,"mime":116,"size":121,"url":122,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":123,"updatedAt":124},"the working gal author.png","the working gal author",250,{"thumbnail":112},{"ext":113,"url":114,"hash":115,"mime":116,"name":117,"path":62,"size":118,"width":119,"height":119},".png","https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_amalia_fcd74699a4.png","thumbnail_amalia_fcd74699a4","image\u002Fpng","thumbnail_amalia.png",57.6,156,"amalia_fcd74699a4",118.47,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Famalia_fcd74699a4.png","2020-12-24T18:58:30.657Z","2025-02-22T08:34:20.998Z","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002Famalia_fcd74699a4.png","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002Fwomen_in_stem_65e2083861.jpg",{"pagination":128},{"page":6,"pageSize":35,"pageCount":6,"total":6},{"data":130,"meta":448},[131,196,261,306,383],{"id":132,"title":133,"createdAt":134,"updatedAt":135,"publishedAt":136,"content":137,"slug":138,"coffees":26,"seo_title":133,"keywords":139,"seo_desc":140,"featuredImage":141,"category":170,"author":171,"img":195},57,"Inspirational Women: Marilyn Monroe — The Brilliant Mind Behind the Icon","2021-03-09T18:00:19.833Z","2025-12-13T23:28:00.794Z","2021-03-12T12:15:29.188Z","The world thought it knew Marilyn Monroe. The breathy voice. The white dress billowing over a subway grate. The \"dumb blonde\" who married a baseball star and then a playwright. The tragic beauty who died too young.\n\nBut the real Marilyn Monroe was far more complex than the image [Hollywood created](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Ffavorite-old-hollywood-movies)—and she knew it. \"I'm not interested in money,\" she once said. \"I just want to be wonderful.\" And she was. Not in the way the studio system wanted her to be, but in ways that were entirely her own.\n\nMarilyn Monroe was a shrewd businesswoman who started her own production company when female executives were virtually unheard of. She was a voracious reader with a personal library of over 400 books. She studied acting with the most rigorous teachers of her time. She fought for better roles, better pay, and creative control in an industry designed to keep actresses powerless.\n\nThis is the story of who she really was.\n\n## The Early Years: Norma Jeane\n\nNorma Jeane Mortenson was born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles. Her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, worked as a film cutter at RKO Studios but struggled with mental illness throughout her life. Norma Jeane never knew her father.\n\nWhen Gladys was institutionalized, Norma Jeane entered a childhood that would shape her forever. She spent years bouncing between foster homes and orphanages—twelve different families in total. She later spoke of being molested, neglected, and made to feel unwanted. \"I was never used to being happy,\" she said, \"so that wasn't something I ever took for granted.\"\n\nAt 16, she married James Dougherty, a 21-year-old neighbor—largely to avoid returning to another foster home or orphanage. When Dougherty shipped out with the Merchant Marines during World War II, Norma Jeane took a job at a munitions factory. There, a photographer from the Army's First Motion Picture Unit spotted her and suggested she try modeling.\n\nIt was the beginning of everything.\n\n## The Rise: Becoming Marilyn\n\nThe modeling led to a screen test at 20th Century Fox. Norma Jeane dyed her hair blonde, and studio executives suggested a new name. She chose \"Marilyn\" after Broadway star Marilyn Miller, and took her mother's maiden name, Monroe. By 1946, Marilyn Monroe existed—at least on paper.\n\nHer early years in Hollywood were a grind: small parts, contract disputes, and constant pressure to be more sexual, more available, more compliant. In 1949, desperate for money, she posed nude for a calendar—photos that would later become famous and nearly destroy her career.\n\nWhen the photos surfaced in 1952, just as her career was taking off, studio executives panicked. Conventional wisdom said she should deny everything. Instead, Monroe did something revolutionary: she told the truth. In a series of interviews, she explained that she had needed the money ($50) to pay her rent. She expressed no shame. The public loved her honesty, and the scandal that was supposed to end her career made her more famous than ever.\n\nBy 1953, Marilyn Monroe was one of the most marketable stars in Hollywood. \"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,\" \"How to Marry a Millionaire,\" and \"The Seven Year Itch\" made her an international icon. The image of her standing over that subway grate, white dress flying, became one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century.\n\n## The Businesswoman Hollywood Didn't See Coming\n\nHere's what the \"dumb blonde\" narrative conveniently ignores: Marilyn Monroe was a groundbreaking businesswoman who understood her value better than the men who ran the studios.\n\nIn 1954, Monroe did something almost unheard of for an actress at the height of her fame: she walked away from her contract with 20th Century Fox. The studio was paying her $1,500 per week while her films grossed millions. She was being cast in the same \"dumb blonde\" roles over and over. She wanted more—better scripts, more money, and creative control.\n\nSo she moved to New York and, with photographer Milton Greene, founded Marilyn Monroe Productions. This made her one of the first women in Hollywood history to run her own production company. She was 28 years old.\n\nThe studio system was designed to keep actors powerless—under contract, [underpaid](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Foverworked-and-underpaid), and interchangeable. By starting her own company, Monroe wasn't just fighting for herself; she was challenging the entire structure of Hollywood. And she won. After a year-long standoff, Fox came back to the table with a new contract: $100,000 per picture, director approval, and the right to make films with her own production company. It was an unprecedented victory.\n\n![merylin.jpg](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmerylin_ee0008753e.jpg)\n\nThe first film under her new contract was \"Bus Stop\" (1956), in which she gave one of her most critically acclaimed performances. \"Some Like It Hot\" (1959) and \"The Misfits\" (1961) followed—roles that showcased her dramatic range far beyond the comedies she'd been pigeonholed into.\n\n## The Intellectual Behind Closed Doors\n\nMonroe was acutely aware of the gap between her image and her intellect. \"I'm trying to find myself as a person,\" she said in an interview. \"Sometimes that's not easy to do. Millions of people live their entire lives without finding themselves. But it is something I must do.\"\n\nWhen she moved to New York, Monroe enrolled at the Actors Studio to study with Lee Strasberg, the father of Method acting. She approached the craft with intense seriousness, something her Hollywood handlers found inconvenient. She read constantly—Dostoyevsky, Freud, Joyce, Whitman. Her personal library, auctioned after her death, contained over 400 books.\n\nShe was in psychoanalysis for years, seeking to understand the trauma of her childhood and the depression that haunted her. In an era when mental health was deeply stigmatized, her willingness to seek help was quietly radical.\n\n\"I restore myself when I'm alone,\" she once wrote. \"A career is born in public—talent in privacy.\" The woman who seemed to exist only for the camera's gaze was, in private, deeply introspective.\n\n## Love, Marriage, and the Search for Home\n\nMonroe married three times, each marriage reflecting a different chapter of her life.\n\nHer first marriage to James Dougherty at 16 was an escape from the foster system. It ended when her modeling career began pulling her toward Hollywood and a life Dougherty couldn't understand.\n\nIn 1954, at the peak of her fame, she married baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. The marriage lasted only nine months—DiMaggio struggled with her sexuality being so public, and reportedly became controlling and jealous. But he remained devoted to her even after the divorce, and after her death, he sent roses to her grave twice a week for 20 years.\n\nHer marriage to playwright Arthur Miller (1956-1961) represented her desire to be taken seriously intellectually. Miller was one of America's most respected dramatists; their union seemed to bridge Hollywood glamour and New York intellectualism. But the marriage was troubled from the start, strained by Monroe's insecurities, miscarriages, and the [difficulties of her career](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Freal-stories-my-biggest-challenge-at-work). Miller later wrote \"The Misfits\" for her—their final collaboration and her final completed film.\n\n## The Struggles She Couldn't Escape\n\nBeneath the radiant smile, Monroe battled demons that fame and fortune couldn't touch. The trauma of her childhood never fully healed. She struggled with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. She became dependent on barbiturates and alcohol—substances that were freely prescribed by Hollywood doctors more interested in keeping stars functional than healthy.\n\nIn 1961, she was briefly institutionalized at the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic, an experience she described as traumatic. \"They had me locked up with all these poor nutty people,\" she wrote to a friend. \"I'm sure to be a nut too by the time I get out of here.\" DiMaggio helped secure her release.\n\nHer final months were marked by professional turmoil. She was fired from her last film, \"Something's Got to Give,\" for absences and lateness—though she was clearly unwell. The studio system that had profited from her for years showed little interest in her wellbeing.\n\nOn August 4, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood home. She was 36 years old. The official cause was \"acute barbiturate poisoning\"—ruled a probable suicide, though conspiracy theories have swirled for decades.\n\n## Why She Remains Inspirational\n\nMarilyn Monroe could have been content to be a pretty face. She could have taken the roles the studios gave her, smiled for the cameras, and collected her checks. Instead, she fought—for better roles, for fair pay, for respect, for the right to be more than what others decided she should be.\n\nShe was a woman who refused to let her past define her. Born into poverty and instability, she transformed herself into the most famous woman in the world. When an industry tried to limit her to one dimension, she started her own company and proved she could do more.\n\nShe was also, crucially, honest about her imperfections. In an era of [carefully managed public images](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fdo-social-media-and-influencers-damage-our-body-image), Monroe admitted to her insecurities, her mistakes, her struggles. \"I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure,\" she said. \"I [make mistakes](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-art-of-failure-how-to-turn-mistakes-into-actual-success). I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you don't deserve me at my best.\"\n\nThat radical honesty—the willingness to be vulnerable in public—made her beloved in a way that mere beauty never could have. She gave other women permission to be complicated, to be ambitious, to be both strong and struggling.\n\n## Marilyn Monroe Quotes That Still Resonate\n\nMonroe was endlessly quotable—her words captured on film, in interviews, and in her personal writings. Some of these quotes have become so famous they've been misattributed, mangled, or invented entirely. Here are the ones we can confidently attribute to her:\n\n*\"Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.\"*\n\n*\"A wise girl knows her limits, a smart girl knows that she has none.\"*\n\n*\"We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.\"*\n\n*\"I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control, and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.\"*\n\n*\"One of the best things that ever happened to me is that I'm a woman. That is the way all females should feel.\"*\n\n*\"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.\"*\n\n*\"Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.\"*\n\n*\"I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love.\"*\n\n*\"I don't mind living in a man's world, as long as I can be a woman in it.\"*\n\n*\"It's better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone.\"*\n\n## Essential Marilyn Monroe Films\n\n**Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953):** The film that made her a superstar. Her performance of \"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend\" is iconic, but watch closely—there's intelligence and irony beneath the glamour.\n\n**The Seven Year Itch (1955):** Home of the famous white dress scene. A comedy that showcases her impeccable timing and the chemistry she created with the camera.\n\n![merilyn monroe inspiration](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FGetty_Images_742843482_8194a5d_e1651576635799_d3d535ef6f.jpg)\n\n_[Photo](https:\u002F\u002Fshare.google\u002FKyRdZo8acbVWyxwZd)_\n\n**Bus Stop (1956):** Her first film after forming her own production company, and one of her most critically acclaimed performances. She plays a saloon singer with dreams—and brings real depth to what could have been a one-note character.\n\n**Some Like It Hot (1959):** Frequently named one of the greatest comedies ever made. Monroe is luminous as Sugar Kane, a ukulele player with a weakness for saxophone players. Her comedic timing is perfection.\n\n**The Misfits (1961):** Her final completed film, written for her by Arthur Miller. A darker, more dramatic role that shows what she might have accomplished had she lived longer. Co-starring Clark Gable in his final film as well.\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\n### What was Marilyn Monroe's real name?\n\nMarilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926\\. She later took her mother's surname, becoming Norma Jeane Baker. The name \"Marilyn Monroe\" was created when she signed with 20th Century Fox—\"Marilyn\" after Broadway star Marilyn Miller, and \"Monroe\" from her mother's maiden name.\n\n### How did Marilyn Monroe die?\n\nMarilyn Monroe died on August 4, 1962, at age 36 in her Brentwood, Los Angeles home. The official cause of death was acute barbiturate poisoning, ruled a probable suicide. The circumstances have generated conspiracy theories for decades, but the official ruling has never been changed.\n\n### Who was Marilyn Monroe married to?\n\nMarilyn Monroe was married three times: to James Dougherty (1942-1946), baseball legend Joe DiMaggio (January 1954-October 1954), and playwright Arthur Miller (1956-1961). Despite their brief marriage, DiMaggio remained devoted to her and sent roses to her grave twice weekly for 20 years after her death.\n\n### Did Marilyn Monroe have children?\n\nNo, Marilyn Monroe did not have children. She reportedly suffered multiple miscarriages, including during her marriage to Arthur Miller, and an ectopic pregnancy. She expressed a desire to be a mother and was reportedly devastated by her inability to carry a pregnancy to term.\n\n### What was Marilyn Monroe's IQ?\n\nWhile her exact IQ is not verified, Monroe was reported to have an IQ of 168, though this figure is disputed. Regardless of the specific number, she was demonstrably intelligent—she read extensively, studied acting seriously with Lee Strasberg, and was savvy enough to start her own production company and negotiate groundbreaking contracts with major studios.\n\n### What is Marilyn Monroe's most famous movie?\n\n\"Some Like It Hot\" (1959) is often considered her finest and most famous film, frequently appearing on lists of the greatest comedies ever made. However, \"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes\" (1953) and \"The Seven Year Itch\" (1955) also remain iconic, with the white dress scene from the latter becoming one of the most famous images in cinema history.\n\n### Why is Marilyn Monroe considered a feminist icon?\n\nMonroe challenged the studio system by starting her own production company (Marilyn Monroe Productions) in 1954, making her one of the first women to do so. She negotiated for better pay and creative control, fought against being typecast, and spoke openly about women's equality. She once said, \"One of the best things that ever happened to me is that I'm a woman. That is the way all females should feel.\"\n\n## Related Reading\n\n### *Explore more stories of remarkable women:*\n\n[Angelina Jolie: From Hollywood Rebel to Global Humanitarian](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Finspirational-women-angelina-jolie)\n\n[The Fascinating Life of Frida Kahlo](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Finspirational-frida-kahlo)\n\n[Margaret Thatcher: From Grocer's Daughter to the Iron Lady](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Finspirational-margaret-thatcher)\n\n## Sources\n[Biography.com \\- Marilyn Monroe](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.biography.com\u002Factor\u002Fmarilyn-monroe)\n[Britannica \\- Marilyn Monroe](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.britannica.com\u002Fbiography\u002FMarilyn-Monroe)\n[Smithsonian Magazine \\- The Private Marilyn Monroe](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.smithsonianmag.com\u002Fhistory\u002Fprivate-marilyn-monroe-80964284\u002F)\n[The Guardian \\- Marilyn Monroe's Library](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fbooks\u002Fbooksblog)","inspirational-women-marilyn-monroe","Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn Monroe biography, Marilyn Monroe quotes, inspirational women, Marilyn Monroe life story, Norma Jeane, Marilyn Monroe movies, Marilyn Monroe facts","Marilyn Monroe was more than a sex symbol—she was a shrewd businesswoman, voracious reader, and pioneer who defied Hollywood. Discover the real woman behind the icon.",{"id":142,"name":143,"alternativeText":52,"caption":52,"width":53,"height":54,"formats":144,"hash":165,"ext":57,"mime":60,"size":166,"url":167,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":168,"updatedAt":169},120,"merylin-monroe.jpg",{"large":145,"small":150,"medium":155,"thumbnail":160},{"ext":57,"url":146,"hash":147,"mime":60,"name":148,"path":62,"size":149,"width":64,"height":65},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_merylin_monroe_98bf8890ac.jpg","large_merylin_monroe_98bf8890ac","large_merylin-monroe.jpg",58.14,{"ext":57,"url":151,"hash":152,"mime":60,"name":153,"path":62,"size":154,"width":71,"height":72},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_merylin_monroe_98bf8890ac.jpg","small_merylin_monroe_98bf8890ac","small_merylin-monroe.jpg",20.48,{"ext":57,"url":156,"hash":157,"mime":60,"name":158,"path":62,"size":159,"width":78,"height":79},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_merylin_monroe_98bf8890ac.jpg","medium_merylin_monroe_98bf8890ac","medium_merylin-monroe.jpg",37.3,{"ext":57,"url":161,"hash":162,"mime":60,"name":163,"path":62,"size":164,"width":85,"height":86},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_merylin_monroe_98bf8890ac.jpg","thumbnail_merylin_monroe_98bf8890ac","thumbnail_merylin-monroe.jpg",6.63,"merylin_monroe_98bf8890ac",108.47,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmerylin_monroe_98bf8890ac.jpg","2021-03-09T17:57:51.489Z","2021-03-09T17:57:51.499Z",{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24,"createdAt":94,"updatedAt":95,"publishedAt":96},{"id":172,"name":173,"slug":174,"instagram":175,"facebook":176,"bio":177,"createdAt":178,"updatedAt":179,"publishedAt":180,"linkedIn":62,"avatar":181},8,"Debbie","debbie","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fdebbie.sto.kourmpeti\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fenos.leptou.kraugh","Our little Debbie... not so little, though! Our smart girl is studying Sociology thus, she adores analyzing whatever is happening in the world as well as suggesting radical solutions, which, to be honest, never follows! She is a great musician -she plays the piano extremely well, and she perfectly \"habla español\".","2021-03-09T18:10:37.250Z","2021-03-09T18:15:16.971Z","2021-03-09T18:15:16.940Z",{"id":182,"name":183,"alternativeText":52,"caption":52,"width":110,"height":110,"formats":184,"hash":190,"ext":57,"mime":60,"size":191,"url":192,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":193,"updatedAt":194},122,"debbie-photo.jpg",{"thumbnail":185},{"ext":57,"url":186,"hash":187,"mime":60,"name":188,"path":62,"size":189,"width":119,"height":119},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_debbie_photo_7024540fda.jpg","thumbnail_debbie_photo_7024540fda","thumbnail_debbie-photo.jpg",6.4,"debbie_photo_7024540fda",14.24,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fdebbie_photo_7024540fda.jpg","2021-03-09T18:05:21.337Z","2021-03-09T18:05:21.350Z","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002Fmerylin_monroe_98bf8890ac.jpg",{"id":197,"title":198,"createdAt":199,"updatedAt":200,"publishedAt":201,"content":202,"slug":203,"coffees":26,"seo_title":198,"keywords":204,"seo_desc":205,"featuredImage":206,"category":235,"author":236,"img":260},56,"10 Things We Learnt from the COVID-19 Pandemic","2021-03-08T23:33:39.072Z","2023-10-25T03:34:03.320Z","2021-03-09T17:29:21.957Z","It has been more than a year since the **outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic**, and our life as we knew it has changed radically. \n\nThe pandemic has caused and is still causing many *deaths, the economy has been decreased globally, and every one of us is trying to adapt to the new situation*. \n\nMany things have changed in several sectors of our life: **our jobs, our relationships, our families**, etc. \n\nStill, many things were new for us and things that we have learned so far from all this *brand-new status quo*. \n\n\n- From the moment we are forced to be in the house all day, we start thinking about how we will spend our **unlimited time** since, after a point, it’s getting boring watching Netflix all day.\n\n- Regarding our relationships, we realize that **distance** is not the most serious reason to end something if there are will and patience.\n\n- **Overconsumption**. Some of us still work and get paid, but being unable to do anything else, we’ve made eBay and Amazon our second (virtual) home.\n\n- We can be **productive** if we use our time properly, whether for business or studies.\n\n- **Technology** helps us to the fullest, and some things we were forced to do, are actually the beginning of a new era (online shopping or remote working, for instance).\n \n![pandemic-covid19-lessons.jpg](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fpandemic_covid19_lessons_41dacae885.jpg)\n \n- We can always do something **creative**, as long as we see the positive side of the time spent at home.\n\n- Our **health** is the most important thing we have.\n\n- Things that we considered **granted**, can change radically.\n\n- The pandemic has made us test our** relationships**, and finally, we can check which of them will last.\n\n- We have learned how to **appreciate** the small things in life, for instance, a walk with a friend.","10-things-we-learnt-from-the-covid-19-pandemic","covid-19, pandemic, lessons, new, era, 10 things we learned, lockdown","The last year has been a milestone for most of us. Our lives have changed radically due to the pandemic. But, apart from this life-changing event, what have we learned so far?",{"id":207,"name":208,"alternativeText":52,"caption":52,"width":53,"height":54,"formats":209,"hash":230,"ext":57,"mime":60,"size":231,"url":232,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":233,"updatedAt":234},118,"learn-covid19-pandemic-coronavirus.jpg",{"large":210,"small":215,"medium":220,"thumbnail":225},{"ext":57,"url":211,"hash":212,"mime":60,"name":213,"path":62,"size":214,"width":64,"height":65},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_learn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9.jpg","large_learn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9","large_learn-covid19-pandemic-coronavirus.jpg",123.2,{"ext":57,"url":216,"hash":217,"mime":60,"name":218,"path":62,"size":219,"width":71,"height":72},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_learn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9.jpg","small_learn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9","small_learn-covid19-pandemic-coronavirus.jpg",37.26,{"ext":57,"url":221,"hash":222,"mime":60,"name":223,"path":62,"size":224,"width":78,"height":79},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_learn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9.jpg","medium_learn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9","medium_learn-covid19-pandemic-coronavirus.jpg",73.7,{"ext":57,"url":226,"hash":227,"mime":60,"name":228,"path":62,"size":229,"width":85,"height":86},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_learn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9.jpg","thumbnail_learn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9","thumbnail_learn-covid19-pandemic-coronavirus.jpg",11.3,"learn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9",270.66,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flearn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9.jpg","2021-03-08T23:26:19.705Z","2021-03-08T23:26:19.716Z",{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24,"createdAt":94,"updatedAt":95,"publishedAt":96},{"id":237,"name":238,"slug":239,"instagram":240,"facebook":241,"bio":242,"createdAt":243,"updatedAt":244,"publishedAt":245,"linkedIn":62,"avatar":246},6,"The Working Gal Team","the-working-gal-team","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fthe_working_gal\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Ftheworkinggal","At The Working Gal, we prioritize collective strategic insight. This piece reflects the shared expertise of our editorial board and specialists, delivering a 360° analysis of modern business and executive lifestyle.","2021-02-14T21:17:05.180Z","2026-04-12T03:32:03.659Z","2021-02-14T21:17:25.177Z",{"id":247,"name":248,"alternativeText":52,"caption":52,"width":110,"height":110,"formats":249,"hash":255,"ext":113,"mime":116,"size":256,"url":257,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":258,"updatedAt":259},108,"Untitled-7.png",{"thumbnail":250},{"ext":113,"url":251,"hash":252,"mime":116,"name":253,"path":62,"size":254,"width":119,"height":119},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_Untitled_7_b2bf764bcd.png","thumbnail_Untitled_7_b2bf764bcd","thumbnail_Untitled-7.png",12.8,"Untitled_7_b2bf764bcd",22.3,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FUntitled_7_b2bf764bcd.png","2021-02-14T21:15:43.138Z","2021-02-14T21:15:43.147Z","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002Flearn_covid19_pandemic_coronavirus_c5d038c8d9.jpg",{"id":262,"title":263,"createdAt":264,"updatedAt":265,"publishedAt":266,"content":267,"slug":268,"coffees":14,"seo_title":263,"keywords":269,"seo_desc":270,"featuredImage":271,"category":300,"author":301,"img":305},55,"International Women's Day: History, Meaning, and How to Celebrate","2021-03-08T22:29:25.476Z","2025-12-13T23:11:58.738Z","2021-03-08T22:32:34.575Z","Every year on March 8, the world marks International Women's Day—a global celebration of women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements, and a call to action for accelerating [gender equality](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fmind-the-gap-the-fight-for-gender-equal-compensation).\n\nBut International Women's Day is more than flowers and [social media posts](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fpsychology-social-media-women). It's a day with over a century of history, rooted in labor movements and revolutionary struggles. It's recognized by the United Nations and observed as a national holiday in dozens of countries. And despite the [progress women have made](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fpauli-murray), it remains urgently relevant—a reminder that the fight for equality is ongoing.\n\nHere's everything you need to know about where this day came from, why it matters, and how to participate meaningfully.\n\n## The Origins: Labor Movements and Socialist Roots\n\nInternational Women's Day didn't begin as a Hallmark holiday. It emerged from the labor movement at a time when [women were fighting for basic rights](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fsuffragettes-the-movement-that-changed-the-history-of-women)—the right to vote, the right to work in safe conditions, the right to be treated as full citizens.\n\nThe story often begins with February 28, 1909, when the Socialist Party of America organized National Women's Day in New York. This commemoration honored a protest held by textile workers in New York who had demanded better working conditions—though historians debate the exact details of that original 1857 protest.\n\nThe idea went international the following year. At the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in August 1910, three German women—Luise Zietz, Clara Zetkin, and Käte Duncker—proposed that an International Women's Day be celebrated annually to promote gender equality and, most pressingly, to demand women's suffrage. Over 100 delegates from 17 countries unanimously agreed.\n\nOn March 19, 1911, International Women's Day was celebrated for the first time, with over one million people participating in rallies across Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Women demanded the right to vote, to hold public office, to work, and to end employment discrimination.\n\n## How March 8 Became the Date\n\n![international-womens-week--week-of-international-womens-day.png](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Finternational_womens_week_week_of_international_womens_day_46f03b4082.png)\n\n_[Photo](https:\u002F\u002Fshare.google\u002FjiQh6gLYnwPNlIC4i)_\n\nThe date wasn't fixed immediately. Russian women first observed International Women's Day on the last Saturday of February 1913, according to the Julian calendar then used in Russia. In 1914, the day was moved to March 8—possibly because it fell on a Sunday that year—and that date stuck.\n\nBut March 8 took on even greater significance in 1917\\. On that day, according to the Gregorian calendar, women textile workers in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) went on strike, filling the streets to demand \"Bread and Peace.\" They were protesting World War I, food shortages, and the tsarist regime. Their strike is considered the spark that ignited the Russian Revolution.\n\nAfter the October Revolution, feminist leader Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to establish March 8 as an official Soviet holiday. For decades afterward, International Women's Day was celebrated primarily in communist and socialist countries while remaining relatively unknown in the West.\n\n## United Nations Recognition\n\nThe United Nations began observing International Women's Day during the International Women's Year of 1975\\. Two years later, in December 1977, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution inviting member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for Women's Rights and International Peace.\n\nThis UN recognition transformed International Women's Day from a primarily socialist observance into a global event. Each year, the United Nations announces a theme that focuses attention on specific issues facing women worldwide. Recent themes have addressed topics like gender equality in the digital age, [women's leadership](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fwhy-women-are-underrepresented-in-leadership-positions), and sustainable development.\n\nToday, International Women's Day is an official holiday in over 25 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Cuba, Cambodia, and several African nations. In other countries, it's widely observed even without official holiday status.\n\n## How International Women's Day Is Celebrated Around the World\n\nThe way March 8 is observed varies dramatically across cultures:\n\nIn Russia and Eastern Europe, International Women's Day is similar to a combination of Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. Women receive flowers, chocolates, and gifts from male colleagues, friends, and family members. Yellow mimosa flowers are particularly associated with the day in Russia and Italy. Workplaces often hold celebrations, and the holiday has a festive, appreciative atmosphere.\n\nIn Italy, women traditionally receive mimosa flowers, and the day (known as Festa della Donna) is celebrated with women-only dinners and outings. It's both a celebration of femininity and an acknowledgment of the ongoing struggle for equality.\n\nIn China, many women receive a half-day off work on March 8, as recommended by the State Council. Employers often give gifts, and the day is used to honor women's contributions to society.\n\nIn Latin America, March 8 often has a more activist character. In countries like Argentina, Chile, and Mexico, the day features massive marches and protests addressing issues like femicide, [reproductive rights](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fglobal-reproductive-rights), and gender-based violence. The purple and green colors of feminist movements fill the streets.\n\nIn the United States and Western Europe, International Women's Day typically involves conferences, panel discussions, [networking events](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-to-network), and social media campaigns. Companies often use the day to highlight women's achievements and announce gender equality initiatives.\n\n## Why International Women's Day Still Matters\n\nSome argue that International Women's Day has outlived its purpose—that in an era when women can vote, work, and own property, the day is an anachronism. The numbers tell a different story.\n\nAccording to the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it will take approximately [131 years to close the global gender gap](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fmind-the-gap-the-fight-for-gender-equal-compensation). Women still earn less than men for comparable work in virtually every country. Women remain dramatically underrepresented in political leadership, corporate boardrooms, and [STEM fields](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-woman-in-the-stem-fields). And in many parts of the world, women face legal discrimination, restricted mobility, and limited access to education and healthcare.\n\n**Some specific realities:**\n\n* Women perform 76% of the world's unpaid care work—more than three times the amount done by men  \n* Only 26% of national parliamentarians worldwide are women  \n* Women hold only about 10% of CEO positions at Fortune 500 companies  \n* 129 million girls worldwide are out of school  \n* One in three women globally has experienced [physical or sexual violence](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-illusion-of-safety-are-women-safe-in-the-western-world)  \n* Women are disproportionately affected by poverty, climate change, and conflict\n\nInternational Women's Day serves as an annual checkpoint—a moment to assess progress, acknowledge what's been achieved, and recommit to the work that remains.\n\n## The Tension Between Celebration and Commercialization\n\nAs International Women's Day has grown more mainstream, it has also become more commercialized. Brands release special products, companies post supportive messages on social media, and the day can sometimes feel more like a [marketing opportunity](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fcareer-advice-from-influencers) than a genuine call for change.\n\nThis tension isn't new. Critics have pointed out the irony of companies celebrating women on March 8 while paying them less than men, providing inadequate parental leave, or tolerating [workplace harassment](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fmobbing-in-the-workplace-when-employees-shrivel) the other 364 days of the year. The term \"femwashing\" describes organizations that use feminist messaging for public relations while failing to address substantive gender inequality internally.\n\n![international-womens-day-1551308579.jpg](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Finternational_womens_day_1551308579_d6df7a3d7d.jpg)\n\n_[Photo](https:\u002F\u002Fshare.google\u002Fdct1POGe0p2MZHDEL)_\n\nThere's nothing wrong with celebrating women or enjoying the festive aspects of the day. But meaningful observance goes beyond purchasing special edition products or posting empowering quotes. It involves examining our own workplaces, communities, and relationships—and taking concrete action toward equality.\n\n## How to Participate Meaningfully\n\nIf you want to observe International Women's Day in a way that goes beyond surface-level celebration, here are some ideas:\n\n**Educate yourself.** Learn about women's history, the [feminist movement](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Femmeline-pankhurst-a-champion-of-women-s-suffrage), and the specific challenges facing women today—including those in different countries and circumstances from your own. Read books by women, watch documentaries, listen to podcasts. Understanding the issues is the foundation for meaningful action.\n\n**Support women-owned businesses.** Make a conscious choice to spend money with [businesses owned by women](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.edl.gr\u002F), especially women from marginalized communities. This creates economic opportunity and helps close the entrepreneurship gap.\n\n**Donate to organizations working for gender equality.** Organizations like UN Women, Malala Fund, Girls Who Code, the Global Fund for Women, and local women's shelters do crucial work year-round. Financial support helps them continue.\n\n**Mentor or sponsor other women.** If you're in a position to help other women advance in their careers, do so. Mentorship matters, but sponsorship—actively advocating for someone's advancement—matters even more.\n\n**Advocate in your workplace.** Push for pay equity audits, transparent salary bands, parental leave policies that support all parents, and accountability for harassment. Attend or organize events that highlight women's contributions and challenges.\n\nAmplify women's voices. In meetings, make sure women are heard. On social media, share women's work and give credit. In conversations, cite female experts. Small acts of amplification add up.\n\n**Reflect on your own biases and behaviors.** Gender inequality is perpetuated not just by overt discrimination but by unconscious biases we all carry. Examine your own assumptions, [language](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-language-is-affected-by-our-gender), and actions. Change starts with self-awareness.\n\n## A Note for Men\n\nInternational Women's Day isn't just for women. Men have a crucial role to play in advancing gender equality—and not just as supportive bystanders.\n\nMen can use March 8 to examine their own workplaces and relationships. Are women being paid fairly? Are their contributions recognized? Are they interrupted or spoken over in meetings? Are they carrying an unequal share of domestic or caregiving work?\n\nMen can also speak up when they [witness sexism](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002F10-sexist-quotes-every-woman-has-heard-1)—something that often carries more weight when it comes from another man. They can advocate for policies that support women. They can mentor and sponsor female colleagues. They can do their fair share at home.\n\nGender equality benefits everyone. Research consistently shows that more equal societies are healthier, wealthier, and happier for people of all genders. This isn't a zero-sum game.\n\n## Remembering Why We Celebrate\n\nInternational Women's Day exists because women throughout history fought for rights that previous generations couldn't have imagined. Textile workers striking in the streets. Suffragettes marching and being imprisoned. Activists organizing across borders in an era before email or social media.\n\nWe celebrate to honor that struggle. We celebrate to acknowledge how far we've come. And we celebrate to remind ourselves—and the world—that the work isn't finished.\n\nThis March 8, whatever form your observance takes, let it be more than a moment. Let it be a commitment.\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\n### When is International Women's Day?\n\nInternational Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8\\. The date has been observed since 1914 and was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977\\.\n\n### Why is International Women's Day on March 8?\n\nMarch 8 became the fixed date in 1914, possibly because it fell on a Sunday that year. The date gained additional significance when Russian women staged a strike on March 8, 1917 (Gregorian calendar) that helped spark the Russian Revolution.\n\n### Who started International Women's Day?\n\nInternational Women's Day was proposed by German socialists Luise Zietz, Clara Zetkin, and Käte Duncker at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910\\. It grew out of earlier National Women's Day celebrations in the United States organized by the Socialist Party of America.\n\n### Is International Women's Day a public holiday?\n\nInternational Women's Day is an official public holiday in more than 25 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Cuba, Uganda, and Zambia. In China, women often receive a half-day off work. In many other countries, it's widely observed without official holiday status.\n\n### What is the theme for International Women's Day?\n\nThe United Nations announces a different theme each year to focus attention on specific issues facing women. Themes have addressed topics like digital inclusion, women in leadership, climate justice, and sustainable development. The official theme is typically announced in advance of March 8\\.\n\n### What color represents International Women's Day?\n\nPurple is the color most associated with International Women's Day, representing justice, dignity, and loyalty to the cause. Purple, green, and white were the colors of the suffragette movement. Yellow mimosa flowers are also traditional symbols, particularly in Russia and Italy.\n\n### Is there an International Men's Day?\n\nYes, International Men's Day is observed on November 19\\. Established in 1992 and relaunched in 1999, it focuses on men's health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models. It is not a UN-recognized observance, but is marked in over 80 countries.\n\n## Sources\n\n[United Nations \\- International Women's Day](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.un.org\u002Fen\u002Fobservances\u002Fwomens-day)\n\n[World Economic Forum \\- Global Gender Gap Report](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.weforum.org\u002Freports\u002Fglobal-gender-gap-report)\n\n[International Women's Day Official Website](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.internationalwomensday.com\u002F)\n\n[UN Women \\- Facts and Figures](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unwomen.org\u002Fen\u002Fwhat-we-do\u002Fending-violence-against-women\u002Ffacts-and-figures)\n","international-women-s-day","International Women's Day, March 8, IWD history, women's rights, gender equality, how to celebrate International Women's Day, women's day meaning, feminist history","International Women's Day on March 8 celebrates women's achievements and advocates for gender equality. Learn its history, global traditions, and meaningful ways to participate.",{"id":272,"name":273,"alternativeText":52,"caption":52,"width":53,"height":54,"formats":274,"hash":295,"ext":57,"mime":60,"size":296,"url":297,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":298,"updatedAt":299},116,"international-women-day.jpg",{"large":275,"small":280,"medium":285,"thumbnail":290},{"ext":57,"url":276,"hash":277,"mime":60,"name":278,"path":62,"size":279,"width":64,"height":65},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_international_women_day_f3f92691b4.jpg","large_international_women_day_f3f92691b4","large_international-women-day.jpg",148.51,{"ext":57,"url":281,"hash":282,"mime":60,"name":283,"path":62,"size":284,"width":71,"height":72},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_international_women_day_f3f92691b4.jpg","small_international_women_day_f3f92691b4","small_international-women-day.jpg",40.41,{"ext":57,"url":286,"hash":287,"mime":60,"name":288,"path":62,"size":289,"width":78,"height":79},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_international_women_day_f3f92691b4.jpg","medium_international_women_day_f3f92691b4","medium_international-women-day.jpg",83.84,{"ext":57,"url":291,"hash":292,"mime":60,"name":293,"path":62,"size":294,"width":85,"height":86},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_international_women_day_f3f92691b4.jpg","thumbnail_international_women_day_f3f92691b4","thumbnail_international-women-day.jpg",10.81,"international_women_day_f3f92691b4",330.33,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Finternational_women_day_f3f92691b4.jpg","2021-03-08T22:17:32.047Z","2021-03-08T22:17:32.064Z",{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24,"createdAt":94,"updatedAt":95,"publishedAt":96},{"id":14,"name":98,"slug":99,"instagram":100,"facebook":101,"bio":102,"createdAt":103,"updatedAt":104,"publishedAt":105,"linkedIn":106,"avatar":302},{"id":14,"name":108,"alternativeText":109,"caption":109,"width":110,"height":110,"formats":303,"hash":120,"ext":113,"mime":116,"size":121,"url":122,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":123,"updatedAt":124},{"thumbnail":304},{"ext":113,"url":114,"hash":115,"mime":116,"name":117,"path":62,"size":118,"width":119,"height":119},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002Finternational_women_day_f3f92691b4.jpg",{"id":307,"title":308,"createdAt":309,"updatedAt":310,"publishedAt":311,"content":312,"slug":313,"coffees":14,"seo_title":308,"keywords":314,"seo_desc":315,"featuredImage":316,"category":354,"author":357,"img":382},54,"How to Eat Healthy When You're Always Busy: A Working Woman's Guide","2021-02-15T16:44:38.447Z","2025-10-25T20:59:43.550Z","2021-05-08T13:53:47.053Z","You skip breakfast because you're running late. Lunch is whatever you can grab between meetings—probably a sad desk salad or leftover pizza from the team lunch. By dinner, you're too exhausted to cook, so it's takeout again. And somewhere in there, you promise yourself that *next week* will be different.\n\nHere's the truth: healthy eating when you're juggling a full-time job, personal life, and everything else that comes with being a modern working woman isn't about perfection. It's not about meal prepping 20 containers on Sunday or eating kale for every meal. It's about creating sustainable strategies that work with your actual life, not against it.\n\n[According to a study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine](https:\u002F\u002Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Farticles\u002FPMC9180068\u002F), 73% of working professionals cite \"lack of time\" as their primary barrier to healthy eating. But here's what the research also shows: women who implement even 2-3 strategic eating habits report significantly higher energy levels, better focus at work, and improved overall wellness—without spending hours in the kitchen.\n\nLet's break down how to actually eat healthy when your schedule is packed, your energy is low, and cooking elaborate meals feels impossible.\n\n## Why Traditional Healthy Eating Advice Doesn't Work for Busy Women\n\nBefore we examine the solutions, let's acknowledge why most nutrition advice fails working women: it's designed for people with unlimited time and mental bandwidth.\n\n\"Meal prep everything on Sunday\\!\" assumes you have a free Sunday, energy after your week, and that you'll still want to eat the same thing by Thursday. \"Pack your lunch every day\\!\" ignores that some days you have back-to-back meetings and barely time to microwave something. \"Plan your meals for the week\\!\" sounds great until Tuesday derails your entire plan and you need to improvise.\n\nThe real challenge isn't knowledge—it's execution under constraints. You know vegetables are healthy. You know you should eat breakfast. You know takeout every night isn't ideal. The issue is building systems that work when you're tired, stressed, and short on time.\n\n[Research from Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab found that the average person makes over 200 food decisions daily](https:\u002F\u002Fevidencebasedliving.human.cornell.edu\u002Fblog\u002Fso-many-decisions-so-little-time\u002F). When you're mentally exhausted from work, your brain defaults to the easiest option—which is rarely the healthiest. The solution? Reduce [decision fatigue](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fdecision-fatigue) by creating default habits that require minimal thought.\n\n## Start With Strategic Grocery Shopping (Not Meal Prep)\n\nThat means that you need a well-stocked kitchen with quick-assembly ingredients that work together in multiple combinations.\n\n![busy woman grocery shopping](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fhealthy_eating_when_busy_500509dcaf.webp)\n\n### The Working Woman's Essential Grocery List:\n\n#### Proteins (Ready-to-Eat or 5-Minute Prep):\n\n* Rotisserie chicken (game-changer for quick dinners)  \n* Pre-cooked grilled chicken strips  \n* Canned beans (black beans, chickpeas, white beans)  \n* Greek yogurt (breakfast and snacks)  \n* Hard-boiled eggs (buy pre-made or batch cook 6-8 on Sunday)  \n* Canned tuna or salmon  \n* Pre-marinated tofu\n\n#### Quick Carbs:\n\n* Microwaveable rice packets (90 seconds\\!)  \n* Pre-cooked quinoa packets  \n* Whole-grain bread or wraps  \n* Sweet potatoes (microwave for 5-7 minutes)  \n* Pasta (10-minute cook time)\n\n#### Grab-and-Go Vegetables:\n\n* Pre-washed salad greens  \n* Baby carrots and hummus  \n* Cherry tomatoes  \n* Pre-cut vegetables (yes, they cost more—they're worth it)  \n* Frozen vegetable medleys (actually more nutritious than \"fresh\" that sits for days)  \n* Frozen cauliflower rice\n\n#### Healthy Fats & Flavor:\n\n* Avocados (or pre-made guacamole)  \n* Olive oil spray  \n* Nuts and seeds  \n* Pre-shredded cheese  \n* Salad dressings you actually like\n\nWith these ingredients, you can create dozens of different meals in under 15 minutes without following a recipe. Grain bowl? Check. Salad with protein? Done. Wrap? Easy. The key is flexibility over rigidity.\n\n## Master the 5 Quick Assembly Meals\n\nThese aren't recipes—they're formulas you can customize based on what you have. Each takes 10-15 minutes max.\n\n### 1\\. The Grain Bowl Formula\n\nBase \\+ Protein \\+ Vegetables \\+ Sauce \\= Dinner\n\nExample: Microwaved rice \\+ rotisserie chicken \\+ frozen broccoli (steamed) \\+ teriyaki sauce \\= Asian-inspired bowl\n\nAnother: Quinoa \\+ chickpeas \\+ cherry tomatoes \\+ cucumber \\+ tahini \\= Mediterranean bowl\n\n### 2\\. The Loaded Salad Formula\n\nGreens \\+ Protein \\+ Crunch \\+ Fat \\+ Dressing \\= Meal\n\nExample: Spring mix \\+ canned tuna \\+ almonds \\+ avocado \\+ balsamic \\= Satisfying salad that won't leave you hungry in an hour\n\nThe trick: Add substantial proteins and healthy fats so your salad is actually filling.\n\n### 3\\. The Wrap\u002FSandwich Formula\n\nWrap\u002FBread \\+ Spread \\+ Protein \\+ Vegetables \\= Portable Meal\n\nExample: Whole wheat tortilla \\+ hummus \\+ rotisserie chicken \\+ pre-shredded carrots \\+ spinach \\= Lunch you can eat at your desk\n\n### 4\\. The Scramble Formula\n\nEggs \\+ Vegetables \\+ Cheese \\= Breakfast-for-Dinner\n\nExample: Scrambled eggs \\+ frozen spinach \\+ feta \\+ toast \\= 8-minute dinner\n\nEggs aren't just for breakfast. They're one of the fastest proteins you can cook.\n\n### 5\\. The Sheet Pan Formula\n\nProtein \\+ Vegetables \\+ Oil \\+ Seasoning \\= Hands-Off Meal\n\nExample: Chicken breasts \\+ broccoli \\+ olive oil \\+ garlic powder \\= 25 minutes in the oven while you change clothes and decompress\n\nThis is your Sunday-evening go-to when you need something easy to start the week.\n\n## Workplace Eating Strategies That Actually Work\n\n### Keep an \"Emergency Stash\" at Your Desk\n\nYou will have days when you forget lunch or don't have time to grab food. Instead of vending machine chips or expensive takeout, keep these in your desk:\n\n* Individual nut butter packets \\+ fruit  \n* Protein bars (find ones that taste good—you'll actually eat them)  \n* Instant oatmeal cups  \n* Trail mix  \n* Canned soup  \n* Crackers and cheese  \n* Dried fruit\n\n[A 2024 workplace wellness study](https:\u002F\u002Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Farticles\u002FPMC4980226\u002F) found that employees who kept healthy snacks at their desks were 40% more likely to make healthier food choices overall. Having good options available removes the decision fatigue when you're hungry and stressed.\n\n### The 10-Minute Morning System\n\nMornings are chaotic. Don't try to cook breakfast from scratch. Instead:\n\nOption 1: Overnight Oats (prepare the night before in 2 minutes)\n\n* Greek yogurt \\+ oats \\+ chia seeds \\+ fruit \\+ honey in a jar  \n* Grab from fridge in the morning\n\nOption 2: The Smoothie Bag Hack\n\n* Freeze pre-portioned bags of fruit \\+ spinach  \n* Morning: dump bag in blender \\+ liquid \\+ protein powder  \n* 3 minutes total\n\nOption 3: The Egg Sandwich\n\n* Microwave a scrambled egg (1 minute in a mug)  \n* Add to whole wheat English muffin with cheese  \n* 4 minutes total\n\nOption 4: The \"I Can't\" Breakfast For days when even 5 minutes feels like too much: Greek yogurt \\+ granola \\+ banana. That's it. Still better than nothing.\n\n### *Read also: [Busy Mornings? 20 Healthy Breakfast Ideas If You Don’t Have Time](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fbusy-mornings-20-healthy-breakfast-ideas-if-you-don-t-have-time)*\n\n## Strategic Takeout and Eating Out\n\nLet's be real—you're going to order takeout sometimes. That's not failure; that's life. The goal is making better choices when you do.\n\n### How to Order Smarter:\n\n![quick meal for busy woman](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fhealthy_eating_when_busy_63fb13327d.webp)\n\n#### At Restaurants:\n\n* Start with a vegetable-based appetizer or salad (you'll naturally eat less of the heavy stuff)  \n* Ask for dressings and sauces on the side  \n* Swap fries for a vegetable side  \n* Take half home immediately—restaurant portions are massive\n\n#### Takeout Ordering:\n\n* Chinese: Choose steamed dumplings, stir-fries with extra vegetables, brown rice  \n* Mexican: Burrito bowls with extra vegetables, beans, skip the sour cream\u002Fcheese or use sparingly  \n* Pizza: Add a salad, eat that first, stick to 2-3 slices instead of half the pie  \n* Sandwiches: Whole grain bread, load up vegetables, skip mayo\n\n**The 80\u002F20 Rule in Action:** If you eat healthy, satisfying meals 80% of the time, the other 20% (Friday night pizza, Sunday brunch, work happy hour) doesn't derail your progress. This is sustainable. Perfection is not.\n\n## The Truth About Snacking at Work\n\nSnacking isn't bad—mindless snacking is. The difference? Intentionality.\n\n### Smart Snacking Strategy:\n\n* Keep snacks that require *some* effort (nuts you have to shell, fruit you have to wash, cheese and crackers you have to assemble)  \n* This built-in pause helps you eat mindfully rather than demolishing a family-size bag of chips during a stressful afternoon  \n* Pair carbs with protein\u002Ffat (apple \\+ almond butter, not just apple)  \n* Schedule snacks rather than constantly grazing\n\nStrategic snacking between meals can stabilize blood sugar, prevent energy crashes, and reduce overeating at main meals—if the snacks are balanced.\n\n## Hydration: The Most Overlooked Energy Booster\n\nBefore you reach for another coffee at 3 pm, ask: [have you had any water today](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fwater-is-a-beauty-elixir)?\n\nMild dehydration (losing just 1-2% of body water) impairs concentration, increases fatigue, and worsens mood. A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that even [slight dehydration decreased work performance by up to 12%](https:\u002F\u002Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Farticles\u002FPMC6603652\u002F).\n\nThe System:\n\n* Keep a water bottle at your desk (you'll drink more if it's visible)  \n* Set hourly phone reminders until it becomes habit  \n* Flavor with lemon, cucumber, or fruit if plain water bores you  \n* Coffee and tea count partially, but don't substitute entirely  \n* Aim for half your body weight in ounces (150 lbs \\= 75 oz water daily)\n\n## What About Supplements?\n\nHere's the honest answer: most people don't need dozens of supplements if they're eating a reasonably varied diet. But if you're consistently too busy to eat perfectly, a [few strategic supplements](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Ffood-supplements-when-should-i-take-them) can help:\n\n### Consider These (After Talking to Your Doctor):\n\n* Multivitamin: Insurance policy for nutritional gaps  \n* Vitamin D: Most people are deficient, especially if you're in an office all day  \n* Omega-3s: If you don't eat fatty fish regularly  \n* Probiotic: For gut health and digestion\n\nSkip the hype: Trendy supplements, detox teas, fat burners, and \"metabolism boosters\" are mostly marketing. Focus on actual food first.\n\n## The Mental Game: Letting Go of Food Guilt\n\nThis might be the most important section of this entire article.\n\n![healthy snacking at desk](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fhealthy_eating_when_busy_5093374a30.webp)\n\nIf you eat takeout three nights this week because work was insane, you're not \"bad.\" You're not \"off track.\" You're a human with a demanding life who made practical decisions with limited time and energy.\n\nDiet culture wants you to feel guilty because guilt sells more plans, more products, more \"solutions.\" But guilt doesn't make you healthier—it makes you stressed, which actually impacts your health negatively.\n\nReframe your thinking:\n\n* ❌ \"I was so bad today, I had a burger\"\n\n* ✅ \"I had a busy day and needed quick fuel. Tomorrow I'll add more vegetables.\"\n\n* ❌ \"I have no willpower\"\n\n* ✅ \"My environment wasn't set up for success. What can I prepare this weekend?\"\n\n* ❌ \"I need to be perfect\"\n\n* ✅ \"I'm making incremental improvements that I can sustain.\"\n\nResearch in health psychology consistently shows that self-compassion—not self-criticism—predicts long-term behavior change. Be as kind to yourself as you'd be to a friend.\n\n## When to Actually Meal Prep (And How to Do It Minimally)\n\nIf you want to and have the time, [minimal meal prep](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002F5-tips-for-meal-prep) can make your week significantly easier.\n\n### The 1-Hour Sunday System:\n\nPick ONE of these to prep:\n\n* Wash and chop vegetables for the week (store in containers with paper towels to absorb moisture)  \n* Cook a batch of protein (grill 4-6 chicken breasts, bake salmon, cook ground turkey)  \n* Make a big pot of quinoa or rice  \n* Prep overnight oats in jars for 5 mornings  \n* Wash fruit and portion into snack containers\n\nThat's it. You don't need to cook 20 full meals. Prep components that you can mix and match during the week.\n\n## The Bottom Line: Progress, Not Perfection\n\nEating healthy when you're busy isn't about having it all figured out. It's about having a few solid strategies that reduce friction between you and make better choices.\n\nStart with one change this week. Just one. Maybe it's keeping Greek yogurt and fruit at work for breakfast. Maybe it's buying pre-cut vegetables so you'll actually eat them. Maybe it's keeping your kitchen stocked with quick-assembly ingredients.\n\nNext week, add another small change. And another the week after that. In three months, you'll have built a completely different relationship with food—not through willpower or restriction, but through systems that actually work with your life.\n\nYou don't need to be perfect. You just need to be a little bit more prepared than you were last week. That's how sustainable change happens.\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions About Healthy Eating for Busy Women\n\n### How can I eat healthy when I have no time to cook?\n\nEating healthy without cooking time is absolutely possible through strategic grocery shopping and quick-assembly meals. Focus on ready-to-eat proteins like rotisserie chicken, canned beans, and Greek yogurt, combined with pre-washed vegetables and microwaveable grains. Most healthy meals can be assembled in under 10 minutes using the grain bowl, loaded salad, or wrap formulas. The key is having the right ingredients available so you're not starting from scratch each time. Think of it as meal assembly rather than meal cooking.\n\n### What are the best healthy snacks to keep at my desk?\n\nThe best desk snacks combine protein or healthy fats with carbohydrates to keep you satisfied between meals. Keep individual nut butter packets with fruit, protein bars you actually enjoy eating, trail mix, crackers with cheese, dried fruit, or instant oatmeal cups. The key is choosing snacks that require some minimal effort to prevent mindless eating. Research shows that employees who keep healthy snacks at their desks make 40% better food choices overall because they have good options when hunger strikes.\n\n### Is meal prep necessary for eating healthy?\n\nNo, traditional meal prep is not necessary for healthy eating. Many busy women find success with \"minimal meal prep\" instead—preparing components rather than full meals. Spend one hour on Sunday washing and chopping vegetables, cooking a batch of protein, or making overnight oats for the week. These components can be mixed and matched into different meals, providing variety without the monotony of eating identical meals all week. A well-stocked kitchen with quick-assembly ingredients often works better than strict meal prep.\n\n### How can I eat healthy when eating out or ordering takeout?\n\nEating healthy while ordering takeout is possible with strategic choices. Start with vegetable-based items, choose dishes with visible vegetables, ask for sauces on the side, and consider taking half your meal home immediately since restaurant portions are typically large. Apply the 80\u002F20 rule: if you eat healthy, satisfying meals 80% of the time, the other 20% won't derail your progress. Choose steamed over fried, add extra vegetables when possible, and pair indulgent items with salads or vegetable sides.\n\n### What should I do if I'm too tired to cook after work?\n\nWhen you're too exhausted to cook, rely on your emergency strategies. Keep an arsenal of 5-10 minute meals: scrambled eggs with toast, canned soup with crackers and cheese, a grain bowl using microwaveable rice and rotisserie chicken, or a loaded salad using pre-washed greens and canned protein. Having these ultra-simple options prevents defaulting to unhealthy choices when your energy is depleted. Some nights, a nutritious breakfast-for-dinner or strategic takeout is the right choice—and that's perfectly okay.\n\n","an-inspirational-message-only-for-you","how to eat healthy when busy, healthy eating for busy working women, how to eat healthy with no time, healthy eating on a budget, healthy snacks for work","No time to cook? Discover how to eat healthy when you're busy with quick-assembly meals, strategic grocery shopping, and realistic nutrition tips that actually fit your hectic schedule.",{"id":317,"name":318,"alternativeText":319,"caption":320,"width":53,"height":54,"formats":321,"hash":349,"ext":323,"mime":326,"size":350,"url":351,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":352,"updatedAt":353},1683,"healthy eating when busy.webp","woman eating healthy at her desk","healthy eating when busy",{"large":322,"small":331,"medium":337,"thumbnail":343},{"ext":323,"url":324,"hash":325,"mime":326,"name":327,"path":62,"size":328,"width":64,"height":329,"sizeInBytes":330},".webp","https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_healthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d.webp","large_healthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d","image\u002Fwebp","large_healthy eating when busy.webp",33.94,562,33940,{"ext":323,"url":332,"hash":333,"mime":326,"name":334,"path":62,"size":335,"width":71,"height":72,"sizeInBytes":336},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_healthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d.webp","small_healthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d","small_healthy eating when busy.webp",14.5,14498,{"ext":323,"url":338,"hash":339,"mime":326,"name":340,"path":62,"size":341,"width":78,"height":79,"sizeInBytes":342},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_healthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d.webp","medium_healthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d","medium_healthy eating when busy.webp",23.85,23854,{"ext":323,"url":344,"hash":345,"mime":326,"name":346,"path":62,"size":347,"width":85,"height":86,"sizeInBytes":348},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_healthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d.webp","thumbnail_healthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d","thumbnail_healthy eating when busy.webp",5.61,5612,"healthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d",63.22,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fhealthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d.webp","2025-10-25T20:57:02.159Z","2025-10-25T20:57:20.677Z",{"id":14,"name":15,"slug":16,"createdAt":355,"updatedAt":356,"publishedAt":96},"2020-12-24T19:16:00.904Z","2025-02-19T20:04:41.159Z",{"id":22,"name":358,"slug":359,"instagram":360,"facebook":361,"bio":362,"createdAt":363,"updatedAt":364,"publishedAt":365,"linkedIn":62,"avatar":366},"Vassilis","vassilis","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fbill_kats_nutritionist\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fprofile.php?id=1341268673","Vasilis is our male help. As a Ph.D. Nutritionist, he cares about our nutrition and wellness and he always wanders around giving us tips on how to maintain a balanced lifestyle. He loves his job and never stops reminding us that! He has a constant smile on his face and he loves classical music. You should see him in the office listening to it -we sure do; he never puts on his AirPods!","2020-12-27T19:56:47.518Z","2020-12-30T15:29:31.466Z","2020-12-27T19:56:50.698Z",{"id":367,"name":368,"alternativeText":109,"caption":109,"width":110,"height":369,"formats":370,"hash":377,"ext":57,"mime":60,"size":378,"url":379,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":380,"updatedAt":381},47,"katsilas_twg.jpg",300,{"thumbnail":371},{"ext":57,"url":372,"hash":373,"mime":60,"name":374,"path":62,"size":375,"width":376,"height":119},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_katsilas_twg_8646e54698.jpg","thumbnail_katsilas_twg_8646e54698","thumbnail_katsilas_twg.jpg",6.24,130,"katsilas_twg_8646e54698",18.87,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fkatsilas_twg_8646e54698.jpg","2020-12-30T15:28:08.271Z","2025-02-22T08:41:26.166Z","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002Fhealthy_eating_when_busy_06cf39376d.webp",{"id":384,"title":385,"createdAt":386,"updatedAt":387,"publishedAt":388,"content":389,"slug":390,"coffees":26,"seo_title":385,"keywords":391,"seo_desc":392,"featuredImage":393,"category":422,"author":423,"img":447},53,"How the Fitness Industry Lies","2021-02-14T22:00:26.751Z","2024-06-21T18:39:33.128Z","2021-02-15T13:25:01.308Z","### The fitness space is filled with men with six-pack abs and women with small waists and giant glutes. \n\nAs career-driven professionals, we are inclined to think, *‘I can do that too’* because we are overachievers.\n\nSo, we embark on our *fitness journey*. We lose weight, maybe get a sort of a six-pack for the summer. After that, it all goes away, and we gain back all the weight and more. \n\n### Why? \nBecause career, family, and social life took priority, and we never got back on track.\n\n#### When’s the last time you thought you were a superior human being because you woke up at 6 am before work every day to get that gym session in?\n\nThen **Coronavirus** happened, we all started working from home, and your routine fell out the window.\n\nThis is what I call the **‘All or Nothing’** mentality, which leads to the cycle of constantly losing and regaining weight.\n\nWhat we forget is that people we see on Instagram being ambassadors for the fitness industry are full-time fitness models, athletes, or personal trainers.\n\n\nWhat they don’t even tell you is that *they don’t have a six-pack all year round*.\n\nWe are not full-time fitness models; we are **working professionals**.\n\nWhat makes us thrive is feeling more energised, more productive, and pain-free. Not having a six-pack.\n\n![how-the-fit-industry-lies-1.jpg](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fhow_the_fit_industry_lies_1_c7078dd678.jpg)\n\n#### The diet industry in the USA alone is worth approximately $71 billion in 2020. \n\nThis is driven by the awful statistic that roughly 95% of people who start a weight loss diet regain the weight back and often more. In one study, only 1 out of 14 contestants on the popular TV show *‘The Biggest Loser’* managed to keep the weight off long term, and even so, the contestant that did become a spin instructor, not a regular desk worker.\n\nThe crazy part is that when we go on a diet and successfully lose weight, we will likely **gain it back**. Yet, we are still inclined to go back on the same diet which got the weight off in the first place. That is like buying the same car that broke down 6 months later, just because it worked for 6 months.\n\nThe simple reason is, *the diet industry tells us that it was not the diet that was wrong*; it is because **YOU** did not stick to it. Did you ever sit and wonder whether having no carbs for the rest of your life is something you can honestly stick to?\n\nI am not saying a healthy diet and exercise is unhealthy; it most definitely is. But finding healthy eating habits, you can stick to and an exercise routine you actually enjoy is key.\n\nWe do not need to look like fitness models. Still, we do need to maintain a reasonably healthy weight, which we can maintain by *healthy eating habits* and incorporating some movement into a mostly sedentary lifestyle. A lifestyle that makes us **thrive as working professionals**.\n\n","how-the-fitness-industry-lies","fit, industry, fitness, six-pack, diet, nutrition, slim, working professionals, wellness, gym","The fitness space is filled with men with six-pack abs and women with small waists and giant glutes. Is that the truth, though? Is there something that the fitness industry doesn't tell us?",{"id":394,"name":395,"alternativeText":52,"caption":52,"width":53,"height":54,"formats":396,"hash":417,"ext":57,"mime":60,"size":418,"url":419,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":420,"updatedAt":421},113,"-how-the-fit-industry-lies.jpg",{"large":397,"small":402,"medium":407,"thumbnail":412},{"ext":57,"url":398,"hash":399,"mime":60,"name":400,"path":62,"size":401,"width":64,"height":65},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_how_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d.jpg","large_how_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d","large_-how-the-fit-industry-lies.jpg",60.08,{"ext":57,"url":403,"hash":404,"mime":60,"name":405,"path":62,"size":406,"width":71,"height":72},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_how_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d.jpg","small_how_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d","small_-how-the-fit-industry-lies.jpg",19.99,{"ext":57,"url":408,"hash":409,"mime":60,"name":410,"path":62,"size":411,"width":78,"height":79},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_how_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d.jpg","medium_how_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d","medium_-how-the-fit-industry-lies.jpg",36.37,{"ext":57,"url":413,"hash":414,"mime":60,"name":415,"path":62,"size":416,"width":85,"height":86},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_how_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d.jpg","thumbnail_how_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d","thumbnail_-how-the-fit-industry-lies.jpg",7.14,"how_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d",128.51,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fhow_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d.jpg","2021-02-14T22:00:16.877Z","2021-02-14T22:00:16.888Z",{"id":14,"name":15,"slug":16,"createdAt":355,"updatedAt":356,"publishedAt":96},{"id":36,"name":424,"slug":425,"instagram":426,"facebook":427,"bio":428,"createdAt":429,"updatedAt":430,"publishedAt":431,"linkedIn":432,"avatar":433},"Sarah Foong","sarah-foong","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fsf_coaching\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fsffitnesscoaching","Sarah is the fit of the group. She is a full-time licensed public accountant in London and a part-time online fitness coach. She is very passionate about helping others achieve their health and fitness goals around their work and career. She also loves a good accounting meme.\n","2021-02-14T21:45:39.373Z","2021-02-14T21:45:46.063Z","2021-02-14T21:45:46.041Z","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fsarah-foong-aca-613b458a\u002F",{"id":434,"name":435,"alternativeText":52,"caption":52,"width":110,"height":369,"formats":436,"hash":442,"ext":57,"mime":60,"size":443,"url":444,"previewUrl":62,"provider":90,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":445,"updatedAt":446},111,"Untitled-3.jpg",{"thumbnail":437},{"ext":57,"url":438,"hash":439,"mime":60,"name":440,"path":62,"size":441,"width":376,"height":119},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_Untitled_3_96d7860597.jpg","thumbnail_Untitled_3_96d7860597","thumbnail_Untitled-3.jpg",8.27,"Untitled_3_96d7860597",28.84,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FUntitled_3_96d7860597.jpg","2021-02-14T21:45:28.244Z","2021-02-14T21:45:28.251Z","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002Fhow_the_fit_industry_lies_109fc11b1d.jpg",{"pagination":449},{"start":450,"limit":451,"total":452},0,5,51]