Why Working Women Face More Stress And What Can Be Done To Overcome It?
In the present scenario, women at work can be seen everywhere whether in or outside India. As the education, awareness, and opportunities for women, provided by the government, have been increasing day by day, women have also become awarded and they are also availing such opportunities.
Slowly, they are strengthening their position in every sphere of life parallel to men. However, unlike men, due to deeply embedded patriarchy, working women also play multiple roles such as child rears, parents, teachers, caretakers of their elderly parents, and many more, which become very much strenuous for them. It is the added responsibility and burden of chores that add to daily hassles or stress for them, especially in working women with young children, which definitely affect their psychological wellbeing.
Despite the strides women have made, gender pay gap is still a very prevalent problem in our country. In spite of being equally hardworking, or possibly, even more deserving, women are held back due to inherent biases when employers think that motherhood and family life does not let them contribute to their highest potential. These biases are also the reason that women struggle with the ‘glass-ceiling effect’ where women are barely seen in leadership roles within organisations. A gender bias creates an obstacle at the recruitment stage itself.
When it comes to remuneration the law proclaims equality but it is seldom put into practice. The inbuilt conviction that women are capable of less work than men or less efficient than men governs this injustice of unequal salaries and wages for the same job. These problems tend to make women less eager to progress in their careers, and can lead to self-esteem issues, anxiety and depression.
In addition to all this, women are often faced with instances of casual sexism or even sexual harassment, which not only poses a direct threat to their safety, but also makes them less inclined to pursue very male-dominated careers, even though it may be what they are passionate towards. Companies must make a concerted effort to ensure women’s safety in every way, especially by having. Human resources department that can address such grave issues.
Furthermore, social conditioning inevitably puts the caretaking burden of family on women, even though she may work as many hours as the men in the household. Domestic duties like cooking, cleaning and child-rearing end up leaving women tired and sleep-deprived, unable to take out time to take care of themselves. A lack of sleep and poor nutrition often damages both their physical and mental health. Often working women are plagued by underlying psychological issues like ‘mommy guilt’ since gendered conditioned by made women the primary caretaker of children. Seldom do men grapple with such feelings.
In recent times, juggling so many duties has actually caused women to drop out of the workforce due to the extreme pressure and a multitude of responsibilities. Women who cannot afford to do that, unfortunately, continue to sacrifice their health and happiness.
To tackle this, the most important tool is open communication. Asking for help from your partner and family when responsibilities get overwhelming is critical not only for themselves, but also to build a bond with loved ones. It is important to make sure that women take at least an hour out in a day to do something simply for themselves, whether it is to spend time with friends, go shopping or pursue a hobby that they enjoy.
Getting exercise is a good way not only to keep ourselves healthy, but working out also release endorphins that reduce stress. Yoga, dance or even brisk walking in the open is a good way to reduce stress levels. Physical activity and exercise are great ways to improve circulation and regulate breathing. They increases levels of oxygen, which will improve brain functioning, calm the nervous system, cleanse the lungs, and facilitate quality sleep.
Journaling is another way we can express our emotions and let out any negative feelings and process them in a healthy manner. Practising gratitude is another way to improve your mental health. Gratitude is appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to you, and represents a general state of thankfulness and appreciation. By showing gratitude you embody a more positive attitude, which improves your personal, professional, and social life. You can express gratitude in two ways: internally, by acknowledging all the good in your life, or externally, by recognising the good in the world around you.
