The Quiet Crisis: The Hidden Cost of Success for America's Working Women
What the Study Reveals
Women aren’t burning out because they’re weak. They’re burning out because the system still isn’t built for them.
Through The Quiet Crisis, Gia exposes the emotional and psychological labor no one measures: perfection pressure, invisible caregiving, self-silencing, over-functioning, and the expectation to be “on” at all times. This research exposes how these patterns create chronic stress, identity loss, and a quiet unraveling behind seemingly successful lives.
The data was compiled from 750 high-achieving women across the United States, offering invaluable insights into the psychological, emotional, and systemic barriers that hold women back from authentic success.
Key Findings
The “Never Enough” Phenomenon: 69% of women report that no matter how much they achieve, they still feel like it’s never enough.
The Emotional Price of Success & Achievement: Success often brings exhaustion, self-doubt, and the pressure to maintain perfection and outdo yourself.
Hidden Burnout: Many women appear “fine” externally while battling internal overwhelm and exhaustion.
The Systemic Gap: Workplace cultures still reward self-sacrifice and hustle culture more than sustainable leadership.
Q&A with the study author, Gia Lacqua
What inspired you to undertake this research?
This research study was designed to uncover the hidden struggles high-achieving women face under the weight of the “do it all” mentality. The question that drove this work is: How does the pressure to excel in every area of life—work, family, social obligations, etc.—impact women’s well-being, fulfillment, and sense of self?
I felt compelled to explore these often unspoken challenges and, more importantly, to create a roadmap that empowers women to break free from this cycle and align their lives with their own authentic definition of success.
Isn’t sacrifice just part of being successful?
Sacrifice becomes dangerous when it becomes automatic. Many women are settling without realizing it—saying yes out of obligation, guilt, or identity conditioning. Over time, this silent self-abandonment erodes well-being, purpose, and potential.
It erodes our physical health, contributing to burnout, fatigue, and stress. It affects our mental well-being, manifesting in anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and disconnection. It keeps us from fully stepping into our potential, as we continue to neglect the deeper desires and needs that fuel our true success. This research illuminates these hidden patterns, offering women the tools to reclaim the energy, purpose, and alignment necessary to thrive on their own terms.
What makes this study different from others about women in the workplace?
Why is this conversation so important now?
This conversation is crucial now more than ever, as the pressures of societal expectations and hustle culture continue to disproportionately burden women. By addressing these challenges, we can break the cycles of burnout, reclaim our sense of self, and redefine success in a way that fosters long-term fulfillment and sustainable achievement. It’s time to shift the narrative and create a future where women not only survive but thrive. And it’s not just for ourselves, but for future generations.
How is this study different from typical women’s leadership advice?
This research isn’t about prescribing a single path or delivering blanket advice. It’s about recognizing that the “do it all” mentality has pressured women into losing sight of their unique paths to success and fulfillment. Instead of telling women how they should live their lives, our study focuses on empowering them to align with their values, purpose, and aspirations. By addressing the hidden costs of the relentless “Never Enough” phenomenon, we aim to provide insights that help each woman uncover her own definition of success, one that allows her to lead, live, and thrive authentically, on her terms.