Confidence is the feeling or belief that you can rely on someone or something, including yourself. It can also mean a secret shared with someone you trust.
From Latin 'confidentia', from 'confīdere' ('to trust completely'). The core meaning is strong trust, whether in your own abilities or in another person.
True confidence isn’t 'I’m amazing'; it’s 'I can handle this, even if it’s hard or I fail at first.' The secret-sharing meaning survives in the phrase 'in confidence'—you’re placing your trust in someone’s discretion.
The language of 'confidence' has been used in gendered ways, often labeling assertive women as overconfident while encouraging confidence in men. Psychological and workplace discourse has sometimes framed women’s underrepresentation as a 'confidence gap' rather than examining structural barriers.
Use 'confidence' consistently across genders, and avoid implying that lack of confidence is the primary cause of inequality without addressing systemic factors.
["assurance","self-trust","statistical confidence"]
When discussing confidence in professional or academic settings, acknowledge research on how women’s competence is undervalued even at equal or higher performance levels.
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