Women face a lot of unique challenges in this world. There’s sexism, misogyny, high numbers of sexual harassment and abuse, and economic inequality, to name just a few. March is women’s history month for a reason: to highlight that women have made major contributions to society. Women, despite barriers and obstacles, continue to push society forward, pulling it ahead.
Easier said than done, of course. Because there are factors that, while women are trying to push ahead, are trying to push them back. While they are trying to pull society forward, some parts of society are pulling them back.
So to start with, here are some basics on women’s mental health in the United States, according to the American Psychological Association in 2017:
⅕ women experience a mental health disorder, like PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc. Yes, the rates of mental illnesses of women are along the same rates as men, but the types of conditions differ. For example, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, PTSD, phobias, OCD, eating disorders, and depression all have higher rates of women being diagnosed. And let’s not forget unique mental health issues faced by women, such as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or peripartum depression.
One might wonder why women are faced with these issues. In a world that tries to scream that “everybody is equal!” (not equitable, mind you…), why are women consistently facing mental health struggles, especially depression and anxiety, at such high rates according to their male counterparts?
The World Health Organization has some answers: there is often unequal power between men and women (think, for example, in the workplace, or the fact that in the US, a woman couldn’t open a credit card without her husband’s co-signature until 1974). There are social norms, too, that dictate a role of a woman vs. a role of a man (think of the last pregnant woman you’ve seen get a promotion). The reproductive rights of women are often in question. Women are more at risk of violence, sexual or otherwise. And, though poverty greatly affects both men and women, the WHO reports that poverty appears to be taking a larger toll on women than men (WHO, 2023).
After looking at this data, honestly, it feels a little bit bleak. If women are faced with so many challenges, how are they still going on? How are they continuing and pushing forward, despite the challenges that are afflicting them?
Because there is inherent strength in women, in their ability to push through the pain, through the misogyny, through the patriarchy. They’ve been doing it for thousands of years, and continue to do so today, sometimes without the recognition that they so ardently deserve. So, how can we help? How can we continue to go forward? How can we try to make things more equitable for women, especially coming from a society that tries, desperately, to continue dragging them down?
For one, talk about the issues. It can be uncomfortable, sure, but start a conversation about the problems that women are facing. Talk about maternal mental health, depression, and anxiety. Talk about the ways that women are treated, and stand up to it. Have an opinion about treating a woman the same way a man would be treated in a similar circumstance. If a woman is being assertive, label it as such, rather than bossy.
Another thing we can do is give credit where credit is due. There’s a long history of women not being given credit, for things even as big as discovering that DNA’s formation is a double helix. When a woman has a good idea, share it, don’t take the idea and spin it.
Donate when you can (money or time), to organizations like Helping Women Period which supplies menstrual products to women who have been denied access to important resources or Equality Now which works to uncover and right injustices against women.
And finally, more than anything, listen. Listen to what women have to say about their experience. Listen to what they have to say about the glass ceiling, about the challenges they’ve faced. Listen to a woman share the first time she was cat-called (most are between the ages of 11-17), or the first time she felt unsafe walking home. Listen to the fears she has, to the anxieties that she faces, to the parts of her world that contribute to depression. Encourage mental health resources, such as seeking counseling in your locality if that’s what she is needing.
Women have done, and continue to do, incredible things. There are the barriers discussed. There are issues that are more ingrained than we may even realize. But there’s always hope, and in women’s history month, hopefully we have all begun to see just how strong the women can be, but just because one is strong, doesn’t mean they couldn’t use a little support. Listen, be gentle, and be aware of the fact that women are powerful while facing the issues that they face (not because of it, not in spite of it, but while). The struggles that women face are struggles that, with time and effort, can be surmounted. So listen to your fellow woman. Understand where they have come from and continue to go. Recognize the barriers in their way, and what they have done so far to get past and over them. Look at the unique challenges that they face, but also the unique qualities and solutions they’ve found. Understand that women’s mental health is just as important as their physical health, and both issues need to be confronted and heard. And always, always, help each other, and listen.
If you’d like to read more on women’s mental health issues, contributing factors to the issues, or organizations that help women here are some excellent resources:
American Psychiatric Association (2017). Mental Health Disparities: Women's Mental Health https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-Women.pdf
Equality Now: A Just World for Women and Girls (2021). https://www.equalitynow.org
Helping Women Period (2023). https://www.helpingwomenperiod.org
Mass General Brigham Mclean (2021). Why We Need to Pay Attention to Women's Mental Health. https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/why-we-need-pay-attention-womens-mental-health
NIMH (2021). Women and Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/women-and-mental-health
World Health Organization (n.d.). Women's Health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/women-s-health
JB
Comentários