What Tradwives, the Glass Cliff and Hustle Culture Have in Common

On Oct. 30, I had the pleasure of chatting with The Persistent’s Josie Cox for our second monthly “And Another Thing” editors’ chat. These lively conversations are a special perk for our paid subscribers. If you were unable to attend, here are a few of the main points (and, if you are so inclined), the full video of our conversation, below.

Women, the glass cliff and… rats!?

In 2023, New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams appointed Kathleen Corradi to the position of rat czar, leaving her with the near-impossible challenge of ridding New York City of rodents. When Corradi quit in September, Josie wondered if her departure could be the result of the “glass cliff—a phenomenon where women are more likely to be appointed to positions of power when the chances of failure are high. Josie gave many examples over the past decades including Theresa May, Linda Yaccarino, and Kamala Harris.

Workplaces are still hostile to women. The 996 trend is just another example

I’ve been covering workplace trends for nearly 15 years and, unfortunately, as much as things change, they stay the same. We discussed the 996 trend that I wrote about recently, which I argue is just 2010’s hustle culture re-branded. In case you’re wondering, 996 refers to working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. Not only is it a recipe for burnout and mistakes, it’s also hostile to those with caregiving responsibilities (mostly women). 

Tradwives are putting a positive spin on our lack of options

Josie and I both noted that some of social media’s most popular trends could be putting a positive spin on something darker. Josie pointed to her article on the Tradwife trend, which some believe is a warning sign signaling frustration with workplaces that still demand full devotion while the division of labor at home remains unequal. 

Paid subscribers can watch our full conversation below and join us for our next And Another Thing editors’ chat on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025.