In the week that America chose a convicted felon over a woman as president, misogyny has felt more present than ever. This has led me to ask the question: how does living with misogyny impact women’s mental health?
Gender equality activist and author Gina Martin spoke of misogyny as the enforcing arm of patriarchy. Patriarchy asserts that women should stay at home, have babies, and look after their partner. Misogyny is the system which tries to push women back into that box, seeing women as the lesser sex. From presidents to influencers, misogyny is still an everyday battle for many women. In this article I will look at misogyny under the veil of mental health and wellbeing.
Low Self-Esteem
Misogyny can impact one’s self-esteem. Self-esteem refers to the value we put upon ourselves, which relates to the beliefs we have about ourselves, and our beliefs can be greatly influenced by the world around us. In the case of misogyny, women are conditioned to be more concerned about their appearance compared to men. This means that as women it is easy for us to be taken in by the external messaging we receive, and base a lot of our self-worth in how we look.
Body image is a good example. In advertisements, men are often portrayed as strong, independent, and powerful whereas women are shown to be waiting for their husband’s return from work; being a housewife. Or they are shown to be glamorous and never fully clothed. As a woman, to see this type of subliminal messaging in our everyday life can lead to feelings of low self-worth, especially when we compare the way we look to others.
I remember when the boys in my class began to speak about the female body in a derogative way. It made me feel uncomfortable and body conscious. I began to look at my body through the male gaze, questioning the way I looked. These feelings of not being good enough can lead to poor life satisfaction and insecurity. Misogyny leads to women to feel less than; the lack of equality we face in society can create a sense of isolation.
Hypervigilance
As a woman, it is quite standard to walk through the streets at night with only one earphone in, to cross the road to avoid walking past a man, and to generally feel more alert when out and about alone. These types of situations can cause a state of hypervigilance. This refers to being on high alert in certain circumstances and causes us to be more aware of our surroundings. Hypervigilance can lead to sleep deprivation and can be exhausting, especially if it relates to situations we experience daily.
This sense of hypervigilance is something I have carried with me for as long as I can remember: holding my keys between my fingers just in case, letting friends know where I am when walking home, and constantly checking behind me when walking at night. These experiences are unfortunately universal, and lead to women feeling unsafe and vulnerable.
Anxiety
Hypervigilance can lead to anxiety. Anxiety is described as a state of unease and dread, ranging from mild to moderate. The hostility that women experience due to their sex can take a toll on their wellbeing.
Violence against women perpetrated by men is constantly being reported on the news. I personally had to restrict the amount of news I was consuming as it was causing me anxiety. As a woman, I have certainly felt anxiety in situations such as walking alone at night. This feels particularly relevant now, as the nights draw in. I have felt a great unease when walking to and from work in the dark.
The expectations put on women can lead to feelings of anxiety too. At quite a young age, I realised that, compared to the boys I went to school with, girls were treated differently. Typically, the boys were allowed to portray a certain amount of boisterousness, whereas the girls were expected to be sensible. This realisation influenced my shyness and need to exist under the radar. Ultimately, the pressure on women to act and look a certain way can cause anxiety.
Ways of Coping in a Misogynistic World
- Use exercises related to mindfulness, such as breathing techniques and body scans, to ground ourselves.
- Limit your amount of exposure to the news. As I mentioned earlier, taking a step back from news stories can benefit your wellbeing.
- Therapy. Speaking to someone about these feelings and unpacking where they come from can increase our understanding of ourselves.
Misogyny has an impact on one’s mental health. From anxiety to low self-esteem, feeling less than or unsafe can have serious consequences for one’s wellbeing. Misogyny challenges our sense of self, can make us question what we deserve from society as women, and that our achievements are limited to what men say we can achieve. Writing this article has shown me that women’s mental health cannot be explored without taking into consideration the impact of misogyny. As a society, we are beginning to realise that misogyny is not ok. It is empowering for us as women to stand up for ourselves and for our future.
