The 411 Magazine Issue 5 | Page 49

FEATURE Social media is Self-Confidence Is Super-Positive motivating women Finally Soaring Millennials 75% of women believe they're making progress toward their life goals. 67% of women believe they'll be better off in the next five years (a huge jump from Glamour's results two years ago, when only 42% had that outlook). 74% of women believe social media can be a positive force in their life In a shift with past years, 70% of women say their top priority in life is to become financially secure, but 56% believe they are underpaid Fuelling Self-Worth and Confidence The Confidence Gap Women in 2017 are more optimistic about their life & future 75% believe they're making progress toward their life goals African American women report higher self-esteem than white or Latina women Women in rural areas are less likely to describe themselves as beautiful Only 28% did, compared with 43% of women in urban areas. Confidence may be up among women in general, but it is even higher among millennials, with 73% saying their life will be better off in five years. The optimism is especially pronounced for those under 25. 46% of the younger millennials also say, "I'm proud of the person I am becoming," higher than other generations in the survey. While 73% of women feel that pride in their appearance contributes a moderate amount to their self-worth (71% among millennials), there are deeper factors that play a higher role in this feeling. 93% say that being a mom contributes a moderate amount to their self-worth, 87% of women say that their intelligence gives them worth, and 86% credit their personalities.  African American women consistently reported higher self- esteem than white or Hispanic women—they were far more likely to describe themselves as successful (44% said so, compared with 30% of white women and 21% of Hispanic). 59% of African American women describe themselves as beautiful, versus just 25% of white women and 32% of Latinas.