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Understanding What Holds Women Back From Prosocial Action

March 18, 2026

The women we hear from want to take action and care about what’s happening in their communities. But it can be hard to transform that caring into meaningful action! Some ideologically-moderate women may feel as though they have nothing to contribute, that their thoughts and opinions don’t matter, or that someone else is better equipped to speak up. In some of Galvanize USA’s earliest explorations into our audience, we learned that 53% of the women we talk to feel like they don’t know enough to talk about civic issues, and 49% even “feel stupid when they talk about politics.” Nearly three quarters feel like talking about those topics will lead to conflict (which they prefer to avoid), and 34% feel like no one around them shares their views. Galvanize USA wants to change that!

While there are many external barriers that can stop women from speaking out, more subtle—and sometimes harder to recognize—are the internal barriers. Promoting prosocial behavior starts with breaking down these barriers so women can speak up for what they believe in and take actions that move us toward a better America. Let’s break down some of the thought processes that hold women back:

Internalized sexism: taking in messages about the inferiority of women and attributing them to yourself and other women
Benevolent sexism: the belief that women should be protected and cherished by men
Colorblindness: a form of racial resentment that denies the ongoing systemic effects of racism
Self-esteem: a sense of personal worth and value
Social significance: how the status and influence of the group you’re a part of impacts your identity

UNDERSTANDING BARRIERS THROUGH THE SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL MODEL

These barriers don’t exist in isolation. One helpful way to think about them is through the social-ecological model. This framework looks at how behavior is shaped by different levels of influence, from individual beliefs to interpersonal relationships and the broader culture.

Galvanize USA exists in the outermost ring, the culture or macrosystem. Our always-on cultural content is part of the social media they consume and the news they read, but that doesn’t mean that our work can’t influence the inner rings as we work to give women the tools they need to take prosocial action. Let’s dive into those inner two rings.

THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL: BELIEFS ABOUT OURSELVES

Let’s start by looking at the innermost ring, the individual. This is the woman and the ways that she views herself. In order to take meaningful action, we have to believe that we can. This may sound easy enough, but many women struggle with this. Several thought patterns can shape this dynamic, including internalized sexism and self-esteem.

Internalized sexism means taking in negative messages about the inferiority of women and attributing these ideas to yourself and/or other women. All women are impacted by these beliefs to some degree. This can manifest as women thinking they are not as capable as the men in their lives or that being a woman means being less capable of things such as being good at math, sports, or home repairs. It can also show up as believing that women are not capable leaders.

It can be difficult to overcome internalized sexism because it can easily become an invisible part of everyday thought processes. Unlike overt sexism, which can be easy to spot, internalized sexism can be much sneakier, making its way into how women think about themselves, their interests, abilities, and other women.Self-esteem also plays an important role. Self-esteem refers to a person’s sense of personal worth and value. When someone’s self-esteem is low, it can be difficult for them to believe that their thoughts are worth sharing or that they are capable of making meaningful contributions. Valuing and trusting oneself is an important element of civic efficacy! That’s part of why Galvanize USA creates cultural content that makes women feel empowered to say what they think and have tough conversations. Here’s one small example:

*Keep reading for more examples at Galvanize Together.*

Over time, we believe that increasing self-esteem can bring about the changes we really want to see in the world, like increased civic and personal efficacy, a sense that our fates are all linked, and an America that truly works for everyone.

THE INTERPERSONAL LEVEL: HOW RELATIONSHIPS SHAPE OUR DECISIONS

Now let’s look at the interpersonal. For many of the women in our audience, their most important relationships are with family, especially their husbands and children. It’s important to understand that many women in our audience perceive the men in their lives to be more knowledgeable about big issues and current events than themselves! This is, in part, a result of the internalized sexism and low self-esteem that we just discussed. When women do not see themselves as capable of making difficult or complex decisions, they are more likely to turn to those around them (looking to social proof) for cues on what is right.

Others feel alone in their views—especially when their husband doesn’t share them. This inspires many women to stay quiet, keep the peace, and avoid ruffling any feathers—even when speaking to their closest loved ones.

HOW GALVANIZE USA SUPPORTS WOMEN IN OVERCOMING THESE BARRIERS

Galvanize USA works to help women strengthen their civic self-efficacy: confidence in their ability to affect change.

Our programming supports women in a few different ways. First is individual sensemaking, which focuses on building knowledge, confidence, and agency as women take on challenges in their own lives. Second is community support, which taps into compassion and care for others in order to broaden perspectives and build a sense of connection. Third is local solutions, which connect women with individuals and organizations working to improve their communities in tangible ways. Finally, systemic change focuses on understanding the systems, structures, and institutions that contribute to the challenges people experience. Here’s an example of that ladder of engagement at work:

How to have an impact Step one pick a cause. For example childhood hunger. Step two learn about that cause For example, find out which neighborhoods in your town don't have accessible grocery stores Step three. Share what you've learned. For example, talk to your family about childhood hunger and share that you want to do something to help Step 4 help someone in need For example, volunteer once a week at a soup kitchen and tell your family about it Except five become a leader For example, organization canned food drive for the soup kitchen Step 6 become an advocate For example, talk to your local council about funding, meal programs and soup kitchens

Within our digital community, women are able to show up as their full selves, share ideas, and ask questions. In this space we practice forming and expressing our opinions, challenging ourselves and others with kindness, and building one another up every step of the way.

Understanding the thought processes that hold women back is an important step toward helping more people feel confident speaking up and taking action in their communities.To learn more about the thought processes that hold women back, take a look at our social media series What Holds Women Back!