How Gender Plays A Role in Mental Health

Gender Stereotypes

Gender stereotypes tend to become an indicator for society as to what it means to be “female” or “male”. This becomes especially destructive when we begin to blur the lines of coping in a healthy and unhealthy manner. The American Psychological Association published a study which said women are more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression and men are more likely to turn towards substance abuse or antisocial disorders.

Gender is a “Critical” Determinant of Mental Health

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that one of the most important factors of mental health is the individual's “gender” because of both men and women’s power over their social position, lifestyle and their treatment in society. Women have become primarily affected with depression, anxiety and other common mental disorders, a serious public health issue. Alternatively, 1 in 5 men develop alcohol dependence in their lives compared to 1 in 12 women who develop alcohol dependence. Also, studies have shown that men are three times more likely than women to develop AntiSocial Personality Disorder.

Data Gap

Mental health is important for everyone regardless of age, sex or gender but, everyone also experiences mental illnesses in different ways. In history, the correlation of age, sex or gender in mental health has been understudied particullary in the healthcare field. For years, the studies were mostly conducted on males or on animals. Now with the new discoveries of mental health and the need to increase our awareness there has been more attempts on truly understanding the impact of gender on our mental health.

Oppression of Women

Women have tended to be considered the more fragile gender due to stereotypes which have led them to be perceived differently. Many studies indicated the women and girls who faced more sexist stressors had more of a chance of developing mental disorders as compared to those who did not experience those stressors. A sociological theory developed by Charles Cooley called the “Looking Glass Theory” states that people will act in the way that they are expected to act so when women are expected to be the less adequate gender they end up acting in that way.

Mental Health Crisis for Boys

Many researchers have said that they’re noticing a heightened need for attention and awareness for the mental health of boys. They have said that boys struggle more compared to girls because of the lack of coping tools available to them. As a society we have promoted “toxic masculinity” and encouraged boys to “man up”. This has made them feel more isolated and are now more prone to lashing out. We have expected boys to be men and in doing that we have completely destroyed their mental health

Sources:

• https://www.michaelshouse.com/blog/how-do-gender-stereotypes-affect-mental-health/

• https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2011/08/mental-illness#:~:text=WASHINGTON%E2%80%94When%20it%20comes%20to,by%20the%20American%20Psychological%20Association.

• https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-determinants/gender/activities/gender-and-non-communicable-diseases/gender-and-mental-health

• https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/impact-age-and-gender-mental-health