Gender stereotypes are like that itch you just can’t scratch, no matter how hard you try.

For a long time, the idea that women are significantly better at multitasking has pervaded, despite the fact that previous studies have shown how multitasking is not an inherently gendered skill. A recent survey of public beliefs even revealed that 50% of the participants believed in gender differences in multitasking abilities.

And it’s not a harmless stereotype – in fact, the myth of the modern superwoman (aka the woman who can juggle every aspect of their high-flying professional and personal life with ease) is setting unrealistic standards for all of us, and could be one of the reasons why so many of us are experiencing burnout.

Science says women aren’t any better at multitasking than men – we just work harder