To succeed means either to achieve a goal or to come after someone in a position, job, or role.
From Latin 'succedere' meaning 'to go up, follow after, come next', from 'sub' (under, after) + 'cedere' (to go). The idea of 'following after' grew into 'achieving after effort'.
The original idea of 'succeed' was just 'to come next', which is why a king’s child 'succeeds' to the throne. Success in the modern sense still carries that shadow: it’s about what comes after a long sequence of steps.
Ideas of who is likely to succeed have been shaped by gendered expectations, with women often discouraged from pursuing certain careers or leadership roles. Success narratives historically centered on men, framing women's achievements as exceptions.
Avoid reinforcing stereotypes about which genders are naturally suited to succeed in particular fields; highlight structural barriers rather than attributing disparities to inherent ability.
When telling success stories, deliberately include women and gender-diverse people whose accomplishments have been overlooked or minimized.
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