Too often, young women are expected to be unshakable. They are seen as these emotional “rocks” that are anchors for their families; resilient leaders among their peers and over-achievers in their academia. From a young age, they are taught to be strong and unwavering in every circumstance. They are praised for their strength, but this admiration can be a double-edged sword. It often comes with an unspoken expectation: they must always be composed, always capable and never vulnerable. This reality is subtly denying their humanity. To be human is to have emotions. Young girls don’t feel they have the right to struggle, to falter or to be supported themselves.
“We live in a society that expects girls to smile through pain, succeed without support, and stay quiet about what’s hurting them. That pressure to be endlessly resilient is not strength—it’s silence. And it’s costing too many girls their well-being” says Linsey Lunny, CEO of Hidden Strength
When young women feel they must be “endlessly resilient,” what we’re really seeing is silence. And silence can be isolating, even dangerous. These dangers impact a young girl’s abilities to develop the necessary skills to function in society as adults. They lack the necessary coping strategies needed to become emotionally and mentally prepared for adulthood. These young women learn to withhold their sufferings. They become depressed and anxious, they doubt themselves, they internalize their struggles. This leads to self-destructive tendencies. They learn to survive by any means. It teaches young women that emotions are a weakness, when in fact, expressing needs is a vital part of mental and emotional health. Young girls need support, they need a community to aid in their growth. They need safe spaces where vulnerability is not only allowed but also encouraged. Strength needs to be redefined as the ability to ask for help, to speak truthfully, and to heal. Help and assistance needs to be openly available without judgment or shame. When hope and support aren’t options, these young women are forced to wear an emotional armor that ultimately will become too heavy to carry alone.
“Young girls are just like everyone else—they go through heartbreak, loss, pressure, and self-doubt. But too often, their struggles are dismissed. These are real issues with real weight and minimizing their reality can have catastrophic consequences,” Continues Lunny.
So why is it that society finds it so easy to dismiss the mental realities of young women?
The answer lies in a cultural pattern that both idealizes and undermines them. From an early age, young women are taught to be emotionally intelligent, nurturing and composed. These qualities are celebrated, but this mentality is quite harmful to these young girls. When they display maturity or strength, it’s often used as evidence that they don’t actually need support. But at the same time, if they express distress, they risk being labeled as too sensitive, dramatic, or even unstable. Young girls are shamed when the load is too big and too much to handle. Yet, they are still expected to maintain the standards that are set before them. This double standard cultivates a climate where their emotions are either ignored or invalidated.
The truth is, young women need to be human beings first. Like everyone else, they face anxiety, self-doubt, exhaustion and fear of failure. They tend to carry the weight of societal expectations, while balancing multiple roles and navigating the pressure to appear perfect. Their strength should not be defined by how much they can silently endure, but by their courage to speak up, to seek help, and to show up authentically.
Recognizing this doesn’t diminish their resilience; it honors their humanity. It’s time to stop glorifying invulnerability and start creating a space for young women to be whole. By fostering environments that validate their experiences and prioritize their well-being, we empower young women to grow into confident, emotionally intelligent adults who know they are never alone.
