A feeling of uncertainty, worry, or lack of confidence about yourself or your situation.
From Latin 'insecurus' meaning 'unsafe, untroubled' with 'in-' later understood as 'not' + 'securus' (secure, safe). The emotional sense in English developed from the idea of not being safe or stable.
Insecurity is your brain’s alarm system guessing that something about you isn’t ‘enough’—often with no solid evidence. Ironically, almost everyone feels insecure, so the thing that makes you feel alone is actually the most shared human experience.
“Insecurity” has frequently been used to stereotype women as emotionally needy or lacking confidence, while underplaying structural factors like discrimination and unequal pay that contribute to insecurity. Media and advertising have also exploited women’s insecurities about appearance for profit.
When discussing insecurity, distinguish between individual feelings and systemic causes, and avoid framing insecurity as a gendered flaw. Acknowledge that men and nonbinary people also experience insecurity, and that social pressures differ by gender.
["lack of confidence","sense of vulnerability","precariousness (for structural)"]
In conversations about body image, work, or relationships, note how women have organized to challenge industries and norms that deliberately manufacture insecurity.
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