Size, age, hair color and toughness have nothing to do with felt recoil...

Gun design, weight, posture when shooting and a dozen other things do...
As mentioned, wear earplugs...The sharp sound of a gun makes one jump...
When sighting in, put on a lifevest, this will help absorb recoil...Also, adjust
the rest and bench so you are sitting up straight vs bending down into the buttstock...