Womens lived experiences of burnout in achieving society

## Chapter 2 Literature Review **Title:** *Im Just a Girl: Womens Lived Experiences of Burnout in Achieving Society* **Length:** 2530 full double-spaced pages (8,0009,500 words) **Format:** APA 7th edition **Sources:** 4060 peer-reviewed journal articles (20212026 preferred; none before 2016 unless foundational theory) **Methodology Context:** Qualitative phenomenological study; semi-structured interviews with 10 women; thematic coding — # NON-NEGOTIABLE STANDARDS * Doctoral-level critical synthesis (not article summaries). * No study-by-study listing. * Organize by themes, not authors. * Demonstrate contradictions and debates in literature. * Identify methodological gaps. * Explicitly build toward the research gap from Chapter 1. * Strong transitions between sections. * No bullet points in final draft. * Avoid fluff and repetitive burnout definitions. — # REQUIRED STRUCTURE — ## 1. Introduction to the Literature Review (23 pages) This section must: * Restate the purpose of the study. * Briefly restate the problem. * Explain how the literature review is organized. * Clarify inclusion criteria (peer-reviewed, 20212026 priority). * Establish the conceptual flow of the chapter. End with a roadmap of themes. — ## 2. Theoretical Framework Foundations (45 pages) Deeply analyze: ### A. Job DemandsResources (JD-R) Model * Origins and major scholars. * How JD-R conceptualizes burnout. * Strengths and critiques. * Application in women-focused research. ### B. Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory * Core assumptions. * Resource loss cycles. * Empirical applications to gendered stress. ### C. Gender Role Theory / Feminist Standpoint Theory * Socialization of achievement. * Emotional labor expectations. * Gendered performance standards. * Intersectional considerations. Requirements: * Compare and contrast theories. * Identify theoretical blind spots. * Explain why integration is necessary. * Show how these theories guide interpretation of lived experience. This section must be analytical, not descriptive. — ## 3. Burnout in Contemporary Research (56 pages) Synthesize research on: * Burnout prevalence across industries. * Gender disparities in burnout. * Emotional exhaustion vs. depersonalization. * Post-pandemic workplace intensification. * Psychological toll of constant productivity. Include: * Statistical trends. * Debates about burnout measurement (MBI vs newer tools). * Critiques of overly quantitative burnout research. End by noting lack of phenomenological depth. — ## 4. Women, Achievement, and Hustle Culture (56 pages) This is where your originality lives. Synthesize research on: * Achievement identity formation. * Internalized productivity norms. * Social media and performative success. * Superwoman schema. * Work-family role conflict. * Neoliberal self-optimization culture. Requirements: * Show how achievement is gendered. * Identify how productivity culture uniquely impacts women. * Highlight contradictions in empowerment narratives. * Critically analyze having it all discourse. — ## 5. Emotional Labor and Invisible Labor (34 pages) Examine: * Emotional regulation in professional settings. * Caretaking expectations. * Invisible cognitive load. * Organizational expectations of warmth and competence. Connect directly to burnout development. — ## 6. Soft Life Ideology as Cultural Resistance (34 pages) Explore: * Emerging scholarship on soft life. * Rest as resistance frameworks. * Black feminist rest theory (if applicable). * Boundary setting and intentional withdrawal from hustle culture. Critically analyze: * Is soft life coping or transformation? * Is it privilege-dependent? * How does it intersect with burnout recovery? This section should demonstrate conceptual sophistication. — ## 7. Methodological Gaps in Existing Research (23 pages) This section is crucial. Identify: * Overreliance on survey instruments. * Lack of phenomenological studies. * Limited narrative research centering womens voices. * Underexplored cultural discourse around achievement. * Lack of integration between burnout theory and gender theory. Explicitly articulate what is missing. — ## 8. Summary and Synthesis of the Literature (23 pages) This is not a recap. This section must: * Synthesize across all themes. * Reinforce contradictions. * Highlight unresolved tensions. * Clearly articulate the research gap. * Transition directly into your study. End with a strong statement positioning your qualitative study as necessary. — # SOURCE REQUIREMENTS * 4060 peer-reviewed sources. * At least 70% from 20212026. * High-quality journals preferred (organizational psychology, leadership, gender studies, sociology, higher education). * Include foundational theory sources where necessary. * APA 7 formatting required. * Full reference list required. — # WRITING EXPECTATIONS * Demonstrate synthesis, not summary. * Avoid repetitive phrasing. * Build logical argument progression. * Use strong topic sentences. * Avoid excessive direct quotes. * Maintain cohesive academic tone. — # ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION TO WRITER The literature review must clearly build toward the central gap: There is insufficient qualitative phenomenological research exploring how women interpret and narrate their lived experiences of burnout within the sociocultural framework of achieving society. The final section must logically justify the necessity of this study.