Self-Esteem

The mischaracterization of women's and girls' identities as weak and conflicted has many potential negative consequences. As psychologist Jean Twenge concludes, the widespread belief that girls and women have low self-esteem and flawed self-concepts can set up negative expectations and self-fulfilling prophecies. When things go wrong - they aren't doing well at school or work, their relationships are going sour, or they are distressed and don't know why -- they may conclude that it's because there is something wrong with their self-concept and personality rather than that there is something wrong in their environment. In addition, the perception that women have weak identities and low self-esteem also can discourage the public from believing that women are fit for positions of leadership and power.

The Truth About Women and Self-Esteem, January 21, 2010 by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema in The Power of Women http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-women/201001/the-truth-about-women-and-self-esteem