This is an overgeneralisation to say the least. How emotional “should” we really be?
In the 19th century, doctors removed uteruses to treat “hysteria”, a so-called “female-problem.” But, surprise! Here in the 21st century, we have found out that men are just as emotional as women: in fact, men and women experience similar emotional fluctuations.
Society tends to be more accepting of women expressing emotions compared to men. As a result of these gender norms, women may have more opportunities to develop emotional awareness through lived experiences.
With multiple roles and identities in our daily lives, women are often weighed against the expectations of culture and society. As a result, we experience a whole range of emotions, which sometimes become too much to manage. When we feel like we’re losing control, we may start to experience emotional distress.
What emotional challenges are commonly experienced by women?
Ψ Biological
There are many biological reasons we feel heightened emotions. Most of them relate to hormonal changes that occur in different stages of our lives. Since puberty, we experience the menstrual cycle. It prepares our bodies for pregnancy, and eventually ends with menopause.
The key “female hormones”, oestrogen and progesterone, ebb and flow according to these processes. Associated with other hormones like cortisol and adrenaline (the stress hormones), they cause us to feel changes in energy and mood.
In addition to mood changes, we often endure pain and discomfort from these biological processes. Balancing these with our roles and responsibilities can make coping challenging.
Ψ Psychosocial
You are a woman: a daughter, a mother, a wife, an employee, a caregiver...
Women often find ourselves juggling multiple roles.
Juggling these roles can become a major source of stress for women, since it involves managing relationships. How do we meet both society’s expectations and our own for every role we play?
How we cope with these challenges depend on our personality traits and experiences, which influences our emotional responses. When we struggle to cope, we could experience burnout or overwhelm. This puts us at an increased risk of mental health conditions depression and anxiety.
Here are some examples of psychosocial stressors women face:
Reproductive and sexual health
Work-life balance
Gender discrimination
Body image and self-esteem issues
Relationship issues (parenting, partners and family dynamics)
Mental health conditions
Coping with women’s emotional concerns
There are many ways we can explore our emotions and the concerns that come along with them. Consider giving some of these strategies a try!
Build self-esteem through Positive Self-Talk
Practice self-care through Mindfulness
Feeling lost? Let us assure you: you’re not alone. The empathy we women can provide each other with can create a safe and supportive community for us to lean on. By showing our compassion and harnessing our unique strengths, we can navigate challenging emotional concerns.
For specialised help, contact our experienced Women’s Health Psychologists. We are ready to support you through the exciting journey of womanhood.