The Climbing-Confidence Gap Female climbers are often less confident than their male counterparts, writes Corey Buhay, but it’s nurture, not nature, and it's something female climbers can overcome: "Historically, the men I climb with have been just as likely as the ladies to butt up against fear, frustration, or failure—to get the rope stuck, misread the route, or simply pump out and give up. But I’ve noticed that when the guys screw up, they shrug it off and keep going. In many of those same situations, my female partners—myself included—shatter. "I know there are women who are bolder and tougher than most men, but the more I’ve looked into the issue, the more my personal observations ring true: Research shows that women are more likely than men to undervalue their accomplishments. In one study led by University of Columbia professor Ernesto Reuben, male subjects exaggerated their past successes by 30 percent on average when incentivized to boast, while female subjects could only manage 15 percent. Other studies show that female students are more likely to talk down their grade-point averages, and as much as five times more likely than men to attribute their successes to help from others rather than to their own abilities. Meanwhile, a significant body of research indicates that negative thinking in both genders can undermine self-esteem and rev up anxiety. And one 2017 study of 300 athletes found negative thinking correlated with early athlete burnout. So what’s wrong with us women? I wondered. Why do we do this to ourselves?" Tap the link in bio to read more. Photo by @kiff.alcocer