A Step Towards Gender Equality
It’s Time to Stop Underplaying Women’s Achievements - Including Your Own
The theme for International Women’s Day 2025—#AccelerateAction - highlights the need for urgent progress towards gender equality. Right now, at the current pace, it could take another five generations before we reach full parity. That’s not because women aren’t ambitious or capable - it’s because the systems around us weren’t built with us in mind.
One of the ways this shows up is in how women’s achievements are often overlooked - not just by others, but sometimes even by ourselves. Societal norms have long conditioned women to be modest, to share credit, to move on quickly rather than take up space in celebrating success. Thresholds facilitator, Jo Wood, has noticed this hesitation from women when they are asked to celebrate their achievements and, in this blog, explores how owning your achievements might be a step towards gender equality.
Why Do Women Struggle to Celebrate Their Achievements?
And Why That Needs to Change!
At Thresholds, we hear time and time again that one of the most impactful sessions we run is Succeeding at Interviews. It’s a transformative workshop designed to help women reflect on their unique strengths and present themselves with confidence. One of the exercises we include in this session asks participants to list ten achievements from across their lives - professional or personal.
Here’s the twist: there are no restrictions. The achievements don’t have to be recent, earth-shattering, or tied to work. They simply need to be meaningful to the individual. It’s a straightforward task, right? But time and time again, I’ve seen women wrestle with it.
Literally hundreds of women have told me the same thing: “I struggled to think of ten.”
Why Is It So Hard?
It’s a question that’s stuck with me. Why is it so difficult for women to identify and celebrate their achievements?
One reason, I think, lies in the impossibly high standards we often hold ourselves to. We brush off accomplishments that don’t feel “big enough.” We hesitate to claim credit for things we believe were expected of us. Or we downplay the effort and resilience it took to get there.
In contrast, when we look at the achievements of others, we’re quick to recognise their value. Somehow, though, when it comes to ourselves, we see only the gaps, the imperfections, or the “it wasn’t a big deal” moments.
Taking Stock of Success
This reluctance shows up in another exercise we often do at Thresholds. At the start of our sessions, we ask participants to reflect on the past few months and think of one or two successes or highlights to share with the group. It’s a simple exercise - a chance to pause, take stock, and celebrate what’s gone well.
But here too, I notice a pattern. Women often find this difficult, sometimes prefacing their updates with comments like:
- “I don’t have much to report.”
- “My update won’t be as exciting as the person who went before me.”
Comparison sneaks in, making them question whether their successes are “enough.” They caveat their achievements, worried about how they’ll sound to others, and in doing so, miss an opportunity to own their moment.
Reflecting and Reframing
At Thresholds, we believe reflection builds self-awareness - a cornerstone of making intentional choices that lead to success, whatever success looks like for you. Revisiting your achievements, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is a powerful step toward building this awareness.
It’s about understanding your strengths, where you thrive, and what makes you unique. By recognising this, you can find ways to bring more of it into your life and confidently move forward with a clear sense of who you are and what you offer. And whilst it’s not just about presenting yourself to others, if you are in an interview, it really helps! Think about it: how can you articulate your value to a potential employer if you haven’t taken the time to acknowledge it yourself?
Redefining What Counts
So, back to the question! Why is it so difficult for women to identify and celebrate their achievements? Perhaps part of the challenge lies in redefining what we view as an achievement. It doesn’t have to mean winning an award or landing a dream job. Sometimes, it’s about getting through a tough period, learning a new skill, or supporting someone else.
For example, achievements could include:
- Overcoming a personal fear, like public speaking.
- Advocating for change within your community.
- Finishing a project you once thought impossible.
- Completing a couch to 5k challenge.
Each of these is valid. Each represents strength, resilience, and growth. It’s not about whether you would mention that achievement in an interview - it’s far more profound. It’s about the way you see yourself. This process helps you recognise that your journey is built on countless achievements, each shaped by the unique skills, talents, and strengths you’ve drawn upon.
Changing the Narrative
What I’ve learned through facilitating these sessions is that the difficulty isn’t because women lack achievements—it’s because we’re too reluctant to own them.
This reluctance doesn’t just hold us back at interviews; it limits us in other areas, too—networking, career progression, or even day-to-day confidence. If we want to succeed, I believe that we have to rewrite this narrative.
And at Thresholds, we support women to overcome these barriers. Through our workshops, we help women recognise their value and share it unapologetically.
Your Challenge
So, here’s a challenge for you: take 15 minutes to list ten achievements. Start with anything that comes to mind. Resist the urge to judge or dismiss them. Then, revisit the list in a day or two - you might be surprised by what you’ve uncovered. And the next time someone asks you to share a recent success or highlight, try to embrace the moment. Forget comparison, forget caveats. Just speak your truth - it’s more than enough.
Reflecting on your achievements isn’t just a confidence-building exercise; it’s a way to reclaim your story. And it’s not just personal - this shift is part of something bigger. At the current rate of progress, gender parity is still more than 130 years away. If we want to #AccelerateAction, we have to start by recognising and valuing women’s contributions - including our own. The more we acknowledge and celebrate our achievements, the more we challenge the barriers that hold women back.
So, this International Women’s Day, let’s take action - not just in words, but in how we see and champion ourselves and each other.
To find out more about the work we do at Thresholds check out our range of programmes and workshops.
About the Author
Jo Wood is a Thresholds Facilitator and Public Speaking Coach. She has a passion for supporting women to improve their confidence, overcome public speaking nerves and achieve their goals.
Find out more at www.epiphanycoaching.co.uk or LinkedIn.
