career girl
Ambitious young professional
A career girl is a woman focused on professional advancement rather than domestic life, especially one who prioritizes work over marriage or family.
The term emerged mid-20th century and now sounds dated or condescending—*girl* applied to adult women carries diminishing overtones: She's a real career girl, always at the office.
Career woman is the neutral alternative.
Intensely determined to achieve
- go-getterAmbitious, driven person
- high-flyerAmbitious, successful person
- achieverOne who accomplishes goals
- climbing the ladderProgressing through hierarchy
corner office · overachiever · workaholic · fast-track · upwardly mobile · goal-oriented · competitive · tenacious
Unacknowledged limit blocking advancement
- equal payMatching compensation regardless of identity
- gender gapInequality between sexes
- workplace discriminationPrejudicial treatment at work
- boys' clubMale-exclusive social organization
work-life balance · second shift · mommy track · leaning in · breaking barriers · trailblazer · male-dominated · sexism
Administrative office aide
- typistOne who keyboards
- stewardessFemale cabin crew member
- shopgirlFemale store employee
- switchboard operatorPerson connecting phone calls
bookkeeper · receptionist · stenographer · filing clerk · spinster · nine-to-five · typing pool · shorthand
Able to provide independently
- singleOne in number
- unmarriedNot legally wed
- self-reliantAble to provide independently
- financial independenceWealth sustaining indefinite living
solo · unattached · city living · autonomous · freedom · self-supporting · bachelorette · cosmopolitan
driven
Intensely determined to achieve
- go-getterAmbitious, driven person
- high-flyerAmbitious, successful person
- achieverOne who accomplishes goals
climbing the ladder · corner office · overachiever · workaholic · fast-track · upwardly mobile · goal-oriented · competitive · tenacious · hustle
glass ceiling
Unacknowledged limit blocking advancement
- equal payMatching compensation regardless of identity
- gender gapInequality between sexes
- workplace discriminationPrejudicial treatment at work
boys' club · work-life balance · second shift · mommy track · leaning in · breaking barriers · trailblazer · male-dominated · sexism · double standard
secretary
Administrative office aide
- typistOne who keyboards
- stewardessFemale cabin crew member
- shopgirlFemale store employee
switchboard operator · bookkeeper · receptionist · stenographer · filing clerk · spinster · nine-to-five · typing pool · shorthand · dictation
self-sufficient
Able to provide independently
- singleOne in number
- unmarriedNot legally wed
- self-reliantAble to provide independently
financial independence · solo · unattached · city living · autonomous · freedom · self-supporting · bachelorette · cosmopolitan · urban
career girlhousewife
Home-focused married woman
homemaker · stay-at-home mom · domestic goddess · kept woman · trophy wife
career girljobless
Lacking paid employment
out of work · unemployed · idle · between jobs · dependent
career, girl, careers, careerist, careerism, girls, girlish, girlhood, girly