Listening for Change: Real voices. Real challenges. A renewed call for equity.
How Young Women Navigate Life Amidst Traditional Gender Norms, Male Dominance and Privilege, Economic Barriers and Health and Safety Concerns
By Lupita Ortiz, YWCA Boulder County advocacy intern and
Tracy Dundon, YWCA Boulder County advocacy chair and board member
Our Mission
Advocacy takes many forms, and at YWCA Boulder County, we are deeply committed to championing the voices of the women who shape our communities. Through impactful initiatives such as the Women’s Empowerment Day at the Capitol, Get the Vote Out rally, our annual “Better Because of Her” luncheon, our STEM E3 program, and strategic partnerships with various organizations, we have identified a critical need: young women and girls need a dedicated space to share their lived experiences. In response, we set out to create that space.
Our mission was clear—to host Listening for Change sessions with young women to inform our legislative priorities for the 2025 session. By amplifying their voices, we aimed not only to understand the most pressing issues they face but also to equip them with the tools and strategies to advocate for change.
Leading this initiative, YWCA Boulder County CEO Debbie Pope and Advocacy Intern Lupita Ortiz, a University of Colorado Boulder student, collaborated with the Advocacy Committee, led by Chair Tracy Dundon, to plan and facilitate these listening sessions.
Over two months, they engaged in meaningful conversations with approximately 100 young women, ages 16 to 24, representing diverse backgrounds and communities, including students from the University of Colorado Boulder and several local high schools.
The stories these young women shared were both powerful and eye-opening, shedding light on the persistent challenges, systemic barriers, and fears that continue to shape their lives. These narratives have been instrumental in shaping the YWCA’s advocacy efforts. Today, we highlight some of these powerful stories to ensure their voices continue to be heard and to help drive meaningful conversation and action.
Is Anyone Listening?
According to the Listening for Change sessions conducted, sexism, harassment, safety issues, and gender-based discrimination are alive and thriving. Despite societal progress, young women still live in fear for their personal safety, are denied respect, endure harassment, and face inequitable access to opportunities and leadership roles at school and in the workforce compared to their male peers.
The findings from these sessions were both informative and alarming. The challenges facing young women today closely resemble the struggles of the 1950s, indicating that meaningful cultural change has yet to occur. This contradiction is particularly stark in institutions and organizations that claim to champion progressive and inclusive policies.
The Listening for Change sessions brought together student participants from various community groups, including the University of Colorado-Boulder's Business and Engineering Women in Technology (BEWiT) Cohort, CU Heal Group, New ERA, Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County’s Panther ZClub, along with high school students from the Boulder Valley School District. During these sessions, young women candidly shared their honest and often painful experiences.
Common Themes Emerged
Lack of Safety and Vigilance: Many young women report feeling unsafe, constantly aware of potential threats, and frequently harassed by men in public, at school, and in workplaces. This reality places a significant burden on women, demanding emotional energy and vigilance that their male peers often do not have to endure.
“I spoke to my male friends about discrimination and harassment, and they seemed surprised by my experiences and were either unaware or could not relate.”
“Our college needs increased student education on drug awareness and the risks of being drugged. It’s a real issue for women on campus.”
“If men realized the impact of their behaviors and prejudices, it might help women. CU should offer a course to educate men on the impact of harassment and discrimination on women in business and engineering.”
Financial Obstacles: Many women struggle to afford college tuition and housing due to high costs, leading to increased stress. Furthermore, the increasing cost of everyday essentials makes it challenging for students to afford their basic needs. When young women encounter financial barriers, their educational and career prospects are hindered, potentially undermining their long-term success.
“I have debated moving in with my parents who live nearby because of the cost of living in Boulder, but I know I would miss out on the typical college experience.”
“Sometimes I can’t afford basic things like shampoo.”
“CU is not generous. Grants and scholarships are not well promoted and are very competitive.”
Disrespect and Inequity: Women in engineering programs and careers often feel dismissed or undervalued. Male peers routinely assign them organizational, editing, or administrative tasks in group projects, and the women end up doing a lion’s share of the work. Perhaps the most disheartening revelation is that many young women do not feel truly welcomed or wanted in male-dominated industries like engineering and technology. They are aware and even expect that discrimination will increase as they enter these fields.
“Men in engineering make assumptions about our roles in the workplace. They assume we are a secretary or an assistant and not an engineer or intern.”
“Men are mostly indifferent, or they just do not want women in engineering positions. At times we feel unwelcome.”
“We would like to see more men involved in supporting women’s issues like encouraging STEM careers, reproductive rights, and safety efforts.”
Exclusion from Leadership: Female students in all fields feel overlooked for key leadership opportunities, with positions like president, vice president, or treasurer predominantly occupied by men. Instead, women are frequently offered leadership roles traditionally viewed as female, like secretary. Additionally, the noticeable shortage of mentorship opportunities for women in male-dominated fields, coupled with a lack of female mentors and role models, poses challenges for young women pursuing careers in these areas and can foster isolation in their professional environments.
“Male students don’t want to be the secretary because secretaries are like teachers and nurses, positions typically held by females.”
“If men really want women in STEM roles, why is it only women who encourage girls to go into STEM? Why aren’t men proactive and visible in this effort?”
“I might choose not to participate in an activity, club, or group when there are a lot of men involved.”
“It is hard to find women to talk to, and if you find a man, it is hard to connect with them as they have different experiences.”
Mental Health and Well-being: Young women are disproportionately impacted by mental and physical health challenges, worsened by inadequate healthcare access and limited research on women's health issues. Unrealistic societal standards and social media pressures placed on young women fuel anxiety and erode self-confidence. Furthermore, limited access to comprehensive sex education and reproductive healthcare beyond middle school leaves young women under-informed about consent, contraception, and their reproductive rights.
“If I had a magic wand, I would create a birth control option that doesn’t make me feel sick.”
“The perfect girl image is a major source of stress and frustration.”
“Healthcare resources are heavily promoted during freshman year but receive less promotion in the following years.”
Call to Action
Men and women must educate themselves on women's experiences, challenge harmful behaviors, advocate for inclusive policies, and actively support gender equity initiatives. Being allies rather than bystanders is crucial to driving meaningful change.
A Collective Responsibility
After hearing these stories, YWCA shared key insights and themes with our Boulder legislators. In response, our representatives highlighted priority legislation that aligned with what we heard from the community, helping guide our advocacy efforts for the current legislative session. The bills below share our values of dignity, justice, and opportunity.
SB25-001 Colorado Voting Rights Act
SB25-034 Voluntary Do-Not-Sell Firearms Waiver
HB25-1062 Theft of a Firearm
SB25-130 Providing Medical Emergency Services
SB25-129 Legally Protected Health Care Activity Protections
SB25-027 Trauma-Induced School Safety Practices
HB25-1038 Post Secondary Credit Transfer Website
SB25-130 Providing Emergency Medical Services
SB25-183 Coverage for Pregnancy-Related Services
As a society, we cannot afford to fail the next generation by ignoring the systemic discrimination young women face. The time for action is now. It’s time for men to acknowledge their role in perpetuating these barriers and take concrete steps to dismantle them.
Young women have spoken—loudly and clearly—through the Listening for Change sessions. The question remains: are we truly listening?
Source: Full listening for change report.