10+ Reasons Why Being A Woman Is Extremely Stressful

Gender expectations

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Being a woman comes with a range of struggles, some of which have been around for hundreds of years, and others that have developed within the modern age of living. One of the main struggles is: gender expectations. This refers to the expectations society places on a woman, and how they can impact a woman's day-to-day life.

Double standards

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Double standards refers to any policies, rules and codes that are applied differently to certain groups of people. Within the context of being a woman, this is a common occurrence, and can be extremely frustrating. Double standards can present themselves within a woman's personal and professional life.

Unequal pay

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One of the main stressors, within modern living for a woman, is unequal pay (commonly referred to as the gender pay gap). There have been multiple studies that show women are often paid up to 70% less than their male counterparts, despite being within the same career/professional position.

Work-life balance

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Staying on the topic of work, many women struggle to find a beneficial work-life balance, and are often shamed for being perceived as 'unmotivated' to work and/or having a 'preference for leisure'. The vast majority of women are mothers, and feel as though they are not supported by their employers, when it comes to raising their children e.g. childcare needs, maternity leave.

Caregiver roles

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Another key source of stress within a woman's life, is the expectation for them to take on caregiver roles. The role of a caregiver can take on many forms, including: caring for a family member/guardian, caring for siblings, caring for children and caring for the elderly/vulnerable.

Reproductive health

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One particular stressor, that has been gaining a lot of traction in recent years, is the topic of reproductive health. Reproductive health is a basic human right, and it has come under threat from a range of people, and government organizations (with some demographics feeling the affect more than others).

Body image pressure

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Another societal construct that is a source of stress within (primarily) a woman's life, is body image pressure. A woman's body image can be severely impacted by a range of factors e.g. social media, fashion/health magazines, advertisements and celebrity media.

Sexual harassment

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Perhaps one of the most stressful and terrifying aspects of being a woman, is the possibility of experiencing sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can take on many forms, with some being more severe than others. The majority of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment, within their personal and/or professional life.

Gender-based violence

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Linking back to the previous point, we come to the problem of gender-based violence. Similarly to sexual harassment, this type of violence can range in severity e.g. domestic violence, sexual violence, stabbings, acid attacks and drugging. Unfortunately, the majority of women have experienced some form of gender-based violence.

Sexism and discrimination

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Another serious stressor for a woman, is the constant occurrence of sexism and discrimination. Sexism and discrimination are rife within modern-day living, as we exist within a patriarchal society that benefits the male population, whilst undermining and under-appreciating women.

Reproductive rights

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Going back to the topic of reproductive health, we come to the topic of reproductive rights. These rights refer to a woman's ability to access suitable health-care and emergency services e.g. accessing birth control, abortions and support with parenting (which are all basic human rights).

Healthcare disparities

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Staying within the realm of healthcare, we come to the topic of healthcare disparities. Many women feel as though they do not receive suitable care at the hands of medical professionals, and are ignored when they raise concerns about changes within their bodies.

Parenting pressure

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Parenting pressure is one of the leading causes of stress within a woman's life, and often leaves her feeling isolated and unsupported. The media portrays celebrity parents as being perfect 100% of the time, whilst remaining glamorous and free of stress, which is very damaging to a woman's self-confidence.

Loneliness and isolation

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As we've looked at previously, the majority of women experience isolation and loneliness within their day-to-day life, which is due to the stressors covered within this list (among a range of others). Many women confess that they don't want to seek help with these issues, due to a fear of being ignored.

Unequal opportunities

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Unequal opportunities for women present themselves within personal and professional settings, and will often be detrimental to a woman's self-confidence and self-belief. These unequal opportunities are fuelled by the patriarchal structure within companies, and society in general.

Microaggressions

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Microaggressions are behavioral, verbal and environmental 'digs' that are targeted at a certain group of people. These 'digs' can be intentional and unintentional, and will often be used to communicate derogatory and/hostile views (usually within a woman's workplace).

Perceived competence

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Perceived competence, refers to condescending behavior an individual showcases, that assumes someone is incapable of completing certain tasks/work. The individual will then proceed to explain said task/work in a patronizing manner, to the person on the receiving end (which is usually a woman).

Lack of representation

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A lack of representation, refers to the wider medias portrayal of women, and the way it impacts certain groups of women. This lack of media representation often impacts minority groups of women e.g. women of color, disabled women and women from a disadvantaged background.

Pressure to 'have it all'

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The pressure to 'have it all', is rooted in the media's representation of celebrities, and the glamorization of their lifestyles. Women are more susceptible to the effect of these portrayals, as they are the target demographic of certain publications/media outlets e.g. gossip magazines.

Stigma surrounding mental health

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There is a strong stigma surrounding the issue of mental health, and it negatively impacts both men and women. This is a source of stress for women, as they are made to feel shame for being emotional, and needing support with their mental well-being (no matter how big or small their problems may be).

Body autonomy

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Body autonomy links back to the points of reproductive rights and reproductive health, and references a woman's right to choose what happens to her body, and if/when certain things happen e.g. abortion. Body autonomy has been under threat in recent years, which has caused a lot of stress for women worldwide.

Financial dependence

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Financial dependence is another big source of stress for women, as it can affect them within a first and second-hand proximity. For example, a woman may be financially dependent on an another individual (partner, friend, family member) and/or government program. On the flip-side of this, she may have someone who is financially dependent on her.

Ageism

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Ageism is a prejudice against someone because of their age, and it normally affects the elderly population. Ageism impacts both men and women, but it tends to impact a larger female population. Women often become demonized past a certain age, and will be shamed if they behave/look a certain way past a certain age.

Online harassment

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Harassment is one of the leading causes of stress for a woman, and it isn't just restricted to everyday encounters, it occurs within the digital landscape as well. Internet 'trolls' (as they're commonly referred to) will enter comment sections and discussions surrounding a women's post, and completely terrorize her.

Fear of judgement

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Everyone has experienced a fear of being judge, and it can be brought up by a range of factors. However, for women this is a common, everyday occurrence, and it can greatly impact their mental/physical health. This fear is often in reference to other people's (possible) perceptions of woman.

Pressure to 'be nice'

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Another pressure that women have to tackle with daily, is the pressure to 'be nice'. This is often rooted within the world of work, and the pre-determined need for women to always be seen as welcoming, warm, friendly and accommodating, no matter the situation/people involved.

Racial and intersectional stressors

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Race and intersectionality have become hot topics of conversation in recent years, and it has been brought to light, how they can negatively impact a woman's life. For example, if a woman is part of the LGBTQ community, and is a woman of color, she is more likely to be discriminated against than straight, cisgender woman.

Inadequate support systems

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Linking back to the previous mention of support systems, we come to the topic of inadequate support systems. This is in reference to support systems that have been put in place, that don't fulfil their duty/purpose to women. The majority of these sub-standard systems, relate to childcare, reproductive rights/health and housing.

Political and legal battles

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Yet another source of stress for a woman, is the potential involvement in a political and/or legal battle. These conflicts are often dominated by men, judged by men and 'settled' by men. This means that women often feel outnumbered and powerless, against the power of politicians and court rulings.

Media influence

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As we've looked at previously, media has always been a strong divider and influencer within women's lives, and it has only gotten stronger during recent times. Social media has become the biggest source of stress for women, and it is the leading cause of women suffering from mental health issues e.g. anxiety, depression, eating disorders.