Against systemic gender injustice, our confidence culture encourages women to blame themselves

Wherever there is talk of inequality—particularly gender inequality—discussions about confidence are never far behind. Women are encouraged to see themselves as stymied by internal obstacles and personal deficits. Shani Orgad and Rosalind Gill write that at a moment when structural inequalities and injustices are intensifying, instead of identifying their root causes, confidence culture turns away from those wider political, economic, and social issues. Instead, it encourages women to turn inwards and work on themselves.