As the youngest of three girls and having attended a single sex high school, I have always valued the strength of women. Furthermore, I have seen many of my closest friends struggle with mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, and became increasingly interested in the causes of these illnesses. Recent studies have shown that women across the world are more susceptible to mental illness than men, likely due to their roles in society. Longstanding gender stereotypes suggest that women typically take on the domestic role of housewife, while men serve as both fathers and jobholders. Although it seems that men who fit this stereotype are busier than stereotypical women, statistics show that the responsibilities associated with the role of housewife are one of the leading causes of stress, anxiety, and depression in women. It is important that we take initiative to abolish sex role stereotypes by promoting the use of gender neutral toys, changing how families are displayed in the media, and encouraging men to help more around the house, in order to prevent future vulnerability to mental illness in women. This is important because mental illness can have long term effects such as susceptibility to discrimination and other health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. Overall, women are more prone to mental illness, and therefore discrimination and other health problems, than men because of the stress associated with the role of housewife. Therefore, it is important that we diminish sex role stereotypes and prevent women from feeling pressured into taking on full responsibility of domestic work.

 It is a common misconception that there are higher rates of mental illness in men than women. This is believed, because men often express their emotions through aggressive and impulsive behavior as opposed to women, who tend conceal and deal with their emotions on their own (Eaton). In his online article, “Study Finds Sex Differences in Mental Illness,” Nicholas Eaton explains that although men are more likely to struggle with substance abuse problems and antisocial disorders, women are more greatly affected by mental disorders overall. 

Furthermore, it is a widely accepted stereotype that women often serve as at-home-moms or housewives, while men hold jobs and bring home income for the family. Those who support this stereotype argue that women are more successful caretakers, because it is in their nature to nurture and love. What often goes under the radar, however, is the mental toll that this domestic role takes on women. Understandably, many people argue that fathers who also work in the job force are more susceptible to mental health issues than women, because they face the stress of the responsibilities that come along with two major roles, father and worker. However, studies show that and women who fit the stereotypical role of housewife face higher rates of mental illness, because they have no alternate source of achievement. Men can focus on their other role if they find one displeasing (Gove & Tudor). For example, if a man is under stress at home, he can divert his attention to work. However, women who only serve as housewife do not have that opportunity. Overall, if the man and woman of the house shared domestic responsibilities, both parties would be able to hold jobs and therefore experience less stress at home. 

Recent studies suggest that women are more susceptible to mental illness than men. In his online article, “Women and Mental Illness,” Dr. Joel Young reveals that women are forty percent more likely to develop depression and twice as likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder than men. Furthermore, “women are 60% more likely to report an anxiety disorder,” according to Dr. Daniel Freeman’s research (Ball). These statistics are widespread, seeing as Freeman’s study was completed in the United Kingdom, United States of America, New Zealand, Australia, and Europe, and results were consistent (Ball). Furthermore, Jason and Daniel Freeman found that women in the United States experience an average 4.0 “mentally unhealthy days” per month, while men experience a mere 2.9 (Freeman). In his article, “Women 40% More Likely to Develop Mental Illness, Study Finds,” James Ball explains that mental health issues overall are about thirty-percent more prevalent in women than in men. One of the primary causes of increased mental unwellness in women is the pressure associated with the stereotypical female role of housewife.

Recent studies and statistics have shown that sex role stereotypes, especially the idea that women should work as housewives, are a major cause of mental illness in women. According to Indian psychiatrists, Sujita Kumar Kar, Suresh Yadav, and Vivek Agarwal, women are under the most stress in countries where they are expected to take full responsibly of domestic work and care taking (337). It was found that, in India, where “the burden of family care falls on the female members,” eighty-seven percent of women often experience stress (337). This percentage is the highest national percentage in the world, likely because women feel pressured by social norms to perform household tasks without help from their male counterparts. Kar, Yadav, and Agarwal use the specific example of a teenage girl who was brought in for psychiatric examination after showing signs of depression, such as attempted suicide, increased aggression, and reduced social interaction. The patient lived with her father and brother, and she took responsibility for all household responsibilities after the death of her mother a year before. Every day, the adolescent would wake up early to cook and clean before school and would juggle homework and household chores after school as well. The patient’s symptoms began to develop shortly after, and she was diagnosed with major depressive disorder (337). This case reveals the direct relationship between domestic responsibilities and stress-related mental disorders in women.

Seeing as numerous statistics and cases show a connection between sex roles and mental health, there are many underlying reasons behind why domestic work increases mental illness in women.  In her online newspaper article, “Women suffer up to 40 per cent more mental health problems than men due to stress of juggling roles, study claims," Tara Brady explains that social expectations and gender role stereotypes pressure women into juggling the many responsibilities that come along with being a housewife and caretaker. These stereotypes label women as housewives and men as both heads of the household and breadwinners. According to these stereotypes, a man always has another role to turn to if one role is unrewarding, whereas “if a woman finds her family life unsatisfactory, she typically has no major alternative source of gratification” (Gove, 34).  Aside from the fragility of having a single role, many housewives feel that they hold a position of “low prestige,” that doesn’t require a lot of knowledge or experience to succeed (Gove, 34). This causes many women to feel discouraged and insecure. Furthermore, the role of housewife is rather disorganized, because it is easy for women to procrastinate jobs, get distracted, and obsess over personal problems as a result (Gove, 35). Stereotypical men, on the other hand, typically hold structured jobs that demand attention and require time management in order to meet deadlines. This often distracts and prevents men from wallowing in their problems, which is likely why males experience lower rates of mental illness. 

It is important that we avoid supporting sex role stereotypes, because they pressure women into taking on stressful domestic roles. This leads to more mental disorders in women, and exposes them to the stigma associated with mental illness.

Women who struggle with clinical disorders are treated differently by society than healthy women, due to the stigma associated with mental illness. Lindsay Holmes, Healthy Living Editor of The Huffington Post, argues that these negative stereotypes are a form of discrimination, because they promote a bias outlook on the mentally ill as a population. This mental illness stigma discourages many victims from seeking help, because they are afraid of being viewed as “crazy” or “insane” (Freeman). In fact, those who struggle with mental illnesses “are more likely to encounter law enforcement than get medical help in a psychological crisis” (Holmes). This is somewhat discouraging, because most law enforcement officials are not properly trained to assist those with psychological disorders (Freeman). Still, United States jails hold more of the nation’s mentally ill than hospitals (Holmes). Aside from the stigma associated with their diseases, those who are mentally ill face numerous other disadvantages.  For example, an employed person who struggles with a mental disorder earns an average of $16,000 less in a year than a mentally healthy employee (Freeman). This, along with other factors, contributes to the higher rates of homelessness among the mentally ill (Holmes). These economic setbacks cause an even greater disadvantage for the mentally sick, because treatment can be expensive and is not readily available everywhere. Comedian and depression survivor, Ruby Wax, questions, in a T.E.D. talk, why mental illnesses are often viewed imaginary illnesses instead of real illnesses such as organ failure. Unfortunately, this discrimination and stigma is not the only consequence faced by women with mental illnesses.

Recent studies have shown that mental disorders can have long term negative health effects on those who struggle.  In her newspaper article, Lena Sun, national reporter specializing in health, explains that women in the United States are more liable to mental health problems than men, especially as they age. These women, specifically those above the age of sixty-five experience extreme difficulty completing simple daily tasks such as eating, bathing, and getting dressed on their own (Sun). Furthermore, those with psychological problems are significantly more likely to experience other health problems. For example, men and women with mental health problems are “twice as likely to have heart disease or diabetes” at some point in their lives (Sun). Since women experience higher rates of psychological distress than men, they are also more likely to be exposed to discrimination and other health problems as a result. 

Deep-seated gender role stereotypes and societal expectations pressure many women into assuming the role of housewife and performing domestic work without any help. This fragile and sometimes disorganized role can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders in women. The affected women of these mental disorders are unfortunately exposed to discrimination and other health issues as a result. The best way to prevent this chain reaction is to start from the beginning and abolish gender role stereotypes. 

Many steps can be taken to prevent sex role stereotypes, one of which includes introducing gender neutral toys at a young age. Primarily, toys such as kitchen sets, broom and dustpans, and baby dolls are considered feminine while racecars and trucks, tool sets, and Lego’s are considered masculine. The respective use of these toys instills, at a young age, the idea that girls and women are supposed to cook, clean, and care for their children, while boys and men can race, build, and take on other occupations. In order to prevent future generations from carrying on gender role stereotypes, it is important for parents to give their children the option to choose their own toys and interests. For example, if a young girl prefers playing with fire trucks as opposed to baby dolls, there is no reason why she shouldn’t play with fire trucks. One way to encourage this is for companies to produce toys in gender neutral colors such as green and yellow, to avoid the suggestion of masculinity or femininity. If children are exposed to gender neutral toys, they can truly “grow up to be whoever they want to be” without being subconsciously swayed by gender role stereotypes. 

Another way to prevent gender stereotypes is by changing the way families are displayed in the media and on television. Many popular TV shows such as Family Guy, Real Housewives, and I Love Lucy, center around a family in which the wife is a stay at home mom and the father works. This further suggests gender role stereotypes and implies that this kind of family is “normal.” Furthermore, a popular oven commercial came out last year featuring two stay at home moms in aprons, boasting about how efficient their oven is. This, like Family Guy, Real Housewives, and I Love Lucy, further proposes the idea that women are typically the ones to stay at home. It is important that we change this common trend in television, by watching shows like Modern Family, Full House, and Who’s the Boss, that challenge the stereotypical concept of gender roles and redefine the American family. By giving positive feedback and promoting these kinds of shows, we as a society can encourage major companies to produce more shows like them. It is important that we change the way families are displayed in the media in order to change the concept of gender roles and “normal” families.

Across the world, women are more inclined to have more mental health issues than men. The underlying cause behind this statistic is that ideas of social norms and gender role stereotypes put a great deal of pressure on women. The gender roles engraved into our society not only create norms of inequality in society but also are extremely detrimental to the mental health of women today. The effects of falling into a stereotype that doesn’t allow women to fulfill their full potential take a toll on one’s sanity. On top of that, the role of a housewife that is laid out for women in society is not an easy one. Women have the family on their shoulders as they make sure everyone has what they need, it can cause a lot of anxiety to have this weight on yourself. An incredible amount is expected out of women in this role and they are assumed to take this role on. The combination of the stress from running a family and household 24/7 to being locked into this stereotype by unfair gender roles creates a plethora of mental illnesses in women today that are notably more significant than that of men. The necessary steps to diminishing these stereotypes and ultimately deterring mental illnesses in women entail big societal changes. Society has begun to evolve towards a more gender equal place as we’ve seen in the most recent years with feminist protests and revolts. Allowing women to explore roles in the work place beyond a housewife would decrease mental illnesses as they’d have less stress in their lives and more peace of a mind in a job more ideal and rewarding. Not only that, but creating more gender neutral toys and clothes and other things essential to the upbringing of our children would instill an idea of equality in the minds of our youth in society. The way our society currently functions is single handedly destroying the minds of women who are full of potential to be something much more than we currently allow them to be, and this is something that needs to change. Allowing women to live to their potential and have gender equality would create a stronger society for everyone.  
