What are the psychological effects of gender inequality? (2023)

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Gender inequality refers to the differences between genders in terms of status, power, wealth, health, and employment. When these differences are avoidable and unfair, it is known as gender inequity.

Gender inequity is the product of sexism, which is prejudice or discrimination against people based on their sex or gender. It primarily impacts women and girls, with consequences that begin at birth.

Some of the measurable ways that gender inequity affects women globally, in comparison with men,include Trusted Source:

• lower rates of schooling and employment
• less pay for similar work
• higher levels of stress
• higher rates of unpaid work, such as caring for sick relatives
• exposure to higher rates of sexual assault, intimate partner abuse, and gender-based violence
• a lack of representation in government

Some of the ways that sexism affects everyday life include:

• sexist remarks
• sexual harassment
• workplace discrimination

All of these have a significant impact on the mental and physical health of women and girls, as well as people of other marginalized genders.

Unlike sex, which is based on biological traits such as genitalia, gender refers to how people feel about themselves. As a result, anyone can experience gender inequity and sexism based on how they behave and express themselves.

Does gender inequity affect mental health?

Yes. According to a 2020 article,women with mental health conditions outnumber men by as much astwo or threefold Trusted Source, depending on the condition.

In comparison to men, women are:

• twice as likelyto have generalized anxiety disorder
• twice as likelyto have panic disorder
• approximatelytwice as likelyto develop depression during their lifetime
• 4–10 timesmore likely to have an eating disorder
• more than twice as likelyto develop PTSD
• more likely to attempt suicide, though men are3.63 timesmore likely to die by suicide

While it is true that many factors play a role in mental illness, including biological differences between sexes, women areoverrepresentedin these statistics, as well as in statistics for chronic physical illnesses.

Studies have shown a link between experiencing discrimination and mental health symptoms. Sexism also exposes people to many of the risk factors of mental health conditions, including chronic stress, negative self-image, and trauma.

Exposure to trauma

One of the psychological effects of sexism can be trauma. Trauma is a reaction to experiencing a severely distressing event that can cause a wide range of mental and physical symptoms, including:

• anxiety and panic
• anger
• sadness
• numbness
• insomniaor nightmares
• dissociation, or feeling disconnected from one’s own thoughts, feelings, or body
• hyperarousal, which puts the body into a state of alertness, making it difficult to relax
• flashbacks

Traumatic events can affect people differently. If the symptoms persist for long periods after a traumatic event, people may meet the criteria for PTSD.

Women are slightly less likely to experience a traumatic event than men. But the types of trauma women experience are more likely to lead to PTSD. This includes child abuse and sexual assault, which1 in 3 womenin the United States endure during their lifetime. In men, the rate is around1 in 10.

Women are also more likely to experience childhood neglect, intimate partner abuse, the sudden loss of a loved one, and harmful practices such asfemale genital mutilation (FGM). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that3 million girls Trusted Sourceundergo FGM every year, most of whom are under the age of 15 years old.

Experiencing a traumatic event can lead to depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety are2–4 times Trusted Sourcemore prevalent in women who have experienced intimate partner violence, on average, than in the general population. Childhood abuse is alsostrongly linked Trusted Sourceto depression.

Exposure to chronic stress

Stressors are events that can cause stress. Studies from Spain and Canada have shown that women havemore chronic stressors Trusted Sourcethan men. They also find these stressors more threatening. As chronic stress is a risk factor of many health conditions, it is likely this plays a role in the higher rates of mental health conditions among women.

Some examples of stressors that disproportionately affect women include:

Household responsibilities

Despite the fact that in many countries it is common in two-parent households for both parents to work, women still spend more time on parenting and housework than men.

A 2014 nationwide study looking at women physicians and academics found that among those with partners and children, women spent, on average,8.5 hours more each weekon domestic chores. Among those with partners who had full-time employment, women were also more likely to take time off from their jobs to take care of children.

Caregiving

Women provide unofficial care to family members and othersmore often Trusted Sourcethan men. Caring can negatively impact a person’s mental and physical health.

Caregivers have higher stress levels than those who are not caregivers, and women caregivers reportmore stress and health problems Trusted Sourcethan men caregivers.Researchalso links caregiving with a higher incidence of depression in women of childbearing age.

There are many factors that could contribute to this. Informal caregiving can result in people:

• getting less sleep or exercise
• having less leisure time
• earning less money, putting them at a higher risk of poverty
• becoming socially isolated

Any of these can increase strain on a person’s mental health.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment refers to unwanted sexual comments or advances. A survey from theNational Sexual Violence Resource Centerfound that around twice as many women experience sexual harassment as men.

During their lifetime, 81% of women and 43% of men reported at least one incident. Women with disabilities were the most likely to experience physically aggressive harassment and assault. For most people, the age they first experienced harassment was between 14–17 years old.

Both the experience of harassment and the fear of experiencing harassment have a damaging effect on mental health. A2017 studyfound that workplace harassment was linked with depressive symptoms, whileother studies Trusted Sourcehave linked sexual harassment to:

• symptoms of PTSD
• lower quality sleep
• higher rates of absence from work