New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shocked the world on 19 January by announcing her plans to step down from the post next month. Ardern said that she didn’t have enough “in the tank” to seek re-election.
These words are stunning since they come from a 42-year-old politician at the peak of her career. It’s not easy to quit when you are at the top of your game, especially for women who have to overcome roadblocks like gender stereotypes at the workplace and unfair division of labour at home. But should hard-won success mean working nonstop to preserve it, even when you are out of energy and inspiration?
Ardern’s decision to depart might come across as sudden at first glance, but if we look at her journey as New Zealand’s PM, it doesn’t seem that surprising. At 37, she became the youngest female head of government when she was elected to power in 2017.