Dear Icy:

A good part of your unhappiness at work is that you are doing others’ work while they are being paid for the work that YOU do (you are not the one being paid for the extra work). So, you feel used. Feeling used, taken advantage of is a tough feeling to endure at the work place or anywhere else. How are your assertive skills? These, if there is a need or possibility to practice and strengthen, will help you in any work situation. Not having enough assertiveness is likely to be a problem in many other work situations,

Are there ways for you, in your current job, to assert yourself? What are your habitual reactions when given extra work? What if you say NO? Or ask Why-don’t YOU do it? Somehow intergate assertiveness with respect though, so you don’t appear hostile.

Your present pink ghetto as you call it may be an opportunity for you to refine your assertiveness skills in the workplace. How exciting (and a bit scary or uncomfortable) can that be? Not boring- something to work on?
anita