Written by Catherine Skinner, Female Empowerment Coach
Catherine Skinner is a female empowerment coach focused on the global issues that disproportionately impact women. Her vision is that every woman can discover her full potential by cultivating self-compassion, connecting with authenticity and living life on purpose.
Women often bear the brunt of societal pressures, juggling careers, family, and unrealistic expectations while facing systemic inequalities. These challenges can leave many feeling trapped in cycles of stress, burnout, and self-doubt. However, by recognizing these patterns and embracing empowered strategies, women can reclaim their autonomy and forge a path toward lasting freedom.
Are things that much worse for women than men
Yes, unfortunately, they are. Women are facing poorer health outcomes the world over, but every woman can break free from this cycle and the pressures placed on her to support her well-being and discover her full potential. This is possible by cultivating self-compassion, connecting with authenticity, and living purposefully. This approach involves taking care of yourself at a deeper level than just engaging in regular self-care activities like exercise or meditation. It is about mastering the skills necessary to connect with your true self and caring enough to advocate for yourself.
This is female empowerment.
Why is this approach specific to women?
Living authentically has received increasing clinical attention in recent years and is emerging as a key focus for women’s health. A significant finding is that individuals who struggle to live authentically often experience poorer health outcomes. (Dr Gabor Mate 2022) Cultural pressures stemming from traditional gender roles compel women to demonstrate their capabilities by maintaining high standards, caregiving, striving for perfectionism, and excelling at work. This global female experience is reflected in the fact that women are more likely to suffer from burnout, anxiety, depression, trauma, and autoimmune diseases but also more likely to die from common problems such as heart disease (Dr Sara Szal 2024).
What does this mean for women’s health?
Societal systems are systemically sexist, racist, and homophobic, which means that even the quality and treatment of healthcare do not adequately serve women. The inclusion of women in clinical trials in the US (the largest manufacturer of pharmaceuticals in the world) was only mandated in law as recently as 1993. This has significant implications for the treatments we receive today, as even diseases specific to women have not been adequately researched with women in mind. (Dr Katherine Liu 2016) There are biases in how women are diagnosed, how we manage pain, and how seriously our conditions are treated. Black women in the UK are three times more likely to die during or after childbirth than white women. (UK Maternal Mortality Rates 2020-22) These challenges are not confined to specific regions; women everywhere can expect to be let down.
What about women’s safety?
In the UK, 1 in 4 women (Refuge UK) and 1 in 3 women globally will experience domestic abuse (World Health Organisation). Each year, more women in the US are killed by a partner than military personnel are killed in combat (Women Under the Gun Report 2014). In the UK, more women die by suicide due to violence and abuse than are murdered by a partner or ex-partner, and those perpetrators rarely face prosecution (2000 Women Report UK 2025). Awareness of drug-related offences against women has increased, highlighted by the bravery of Gisele Pelicot. Still, this issue is often minimised by society, and women rarely receive justice unless the perpetrator is captured on video or discovered by chance.
Women’s rights?
Regardless of where they live, women are more likely to endure poverty, debt, and financial abuse. If the current trends continue, the gender gap will not close for another 136 years (World Economic Forum 2021). Feminist campaign groups are actively fighting to protect reproductive rights across the EU. Women continue to be underrepresented in government, business, and culture. Those who have historically made significant contributions are often erased from history. The ongoing practice of silencing women through discrimination, violence, and oppression continues to uphold male-dominated power structures in politics, wealth, and leadership globally. Women's rights are not just being eroded; they are being annihilated, from the US to Afghanistan and countless other countries, with little regard for the societal devastation this causes, leaving many women isolated and powerless, struggling to care for their children. The experience of women, particularly those who are part of the global majority and not white, is markedly different from that of men. Intersectionality is a tool used against women to further discriminate based on race, ethnicity, community, class, religion, sexuality, ability, and immigration status (EU Gender Matters Report 2025).
What can women do?
We are at a pivotal moment in history, and male-dominated leadership in politics and business is invested in keeping women out of power and compliant with the status quo, fearing that they will take up too much space, earn more money, take jobs, and lead.
The most significant deception women have ever faced is the notion that if we are perfect, good enough, hardworking, and caring for others, we will be rewarded with the ideal career, family, home, and life. This is not true. Our hopes and dreams are not built by playing the game; they come from having the courage to break free to pursue them. We often lack the time and space to consider what we truly want our lives to look like. While we may have some ideas and motivation to create a different life from our childhoods, we often lack a clear picture of what that even looks like. Do we want to get married? Do we want to own a home? Do we want children? What do we envision for our careers?
Many women feel a strong obligation to be good and follow the rules as a strategy to stay safe and avoid harm, often only pausing to reflect on their lives when the damage is already done. By that point, we realise that we are not where we want to be, and a sense of urgency to change our course arises. Awakening to this reality can be a powerful moment of clarity, helping us realise that the game we are playing is not in our best interest at all. This is where female empowerment work is having an impact at an individual, community and global level. Women aren’t waiting anymore. They are working together to improve their lives, day by day, for themselves, their families, their communities, and all those who come after them, and it starts with asking yourself one simple question: What do you want?
Are you in?
To start your journey of female empowerment, book your first coaching session today for free! Together, we will work to identify what you need and want, what is blocking you, and how to overcome all of it. It starts with taking your first step and showing up for yourself.
Visit my website for more info!
Read more from Catherine Skinner
Catherine Skinner, Female Empowerment Coach
Catherine Skinner is an expert in the field of female empowerment. A Director in the non-profit sector for 15 years, she has worked with thousands of women experiencing different challenges, from breast cancer to domestic abuse. Having reached burnout herself in 2024, she founded her own coaching practice to deal with the issues that disproportionately affect women. From burnout to being a victim of violence, women are more likely to experience these issues worldwide. Catherine’s work creates conversations, communities and safe spaces for women to share, learn and discover their full potential.
