The Reasons Women Are Consistently More Stressed Than Men
Just imagine the following scenario: Everyone in your household is running late on a busy Monday morning. The kids didn't get out of bed in time to catch the bus to school and now they're running late. Maybe you're a single parent or your partner is feeling under the weather and can't drive them to school. That means it's up to you to get the kiddos there. But driving them to school means you'll be at least 30 minutes late to your job, and since you just got hired not too long ago, you're dreading having to call in and give them the heads up. Your mind is racing as you drive down the highway, your palms are sweaty, and you feel completely overwhelmed as scenarios of doom flash through your head.
In times like this, when life seems chaotic and out of your control, stress comes at you hard. If you're trying to tell the difference between stress and anxiety, the experts over at Healthline put it like this: Stress is how your body responds to something your mind thinks is dangerous, often with a much less significant reaction than you experience with anxiety. Stress is how your body knows it's time to kick it into overdrive to get you to a point of safety. Although the response is natural, stress can take a toll on your body and mental well-being.
Experts believe that women are predominantly more stressed than men. The reasons why boil down to how much work women have on their plate in comparison to men.
Women do more of this kind of unpaid work than men
Raising children is a rewarding experience that many women wouldn't exchange for the world. All those smelly diapers, late nights kept up with a sick child, and sinks filled to the brim with dirty, sticky dishes is just something that comes with the job. This doesn't change the fact that being a mom is essentially very taxing work, and we don't know any moms getting paid for this important job.
In an interview with The New York Times, LA-based couples therapist Erin Joyce pointed out that women do much, much more childcare in the home environment than men, which puts women at a higher risk of being stressed than men. Some critics like to point out that men don't just sit on the couch once they get home; they also have duties to perform. But, as Joyce explained, "The difference is in the nature and scope of these responsibilities in the home environment."
According to Forbes, women are eight times more likely than men to be the one who stays home with sick children or cares for elderly relatives, which can drain an ample amount of money from their paycheck. Taking care of everyone else in the household also means women have less time to take care of themselves, leading to more stress.
Work in the office is more stressful for women
The stressors for women don't end when they leave household duties behind and head to the workplace. Women in the workforce also find themselves struggling with stress at a higher rate than men.
A LinkedIn survey of nearly 5,000 employed people found that a whopping 74% of women are stressed because of work. Compare that to 61% of men who said they were stressed in the same survey, and it becomes clear that women might be facing more hurdles at work. Have you ever felt the need to say yes to a request despite already being swamped with other work-related tasks? This is the exact feeling that Harvard Business Review says leads more women to feel stressed at work. Harvard states that many women tend to feel a need to conform to the stereotype of being more accommodating, but holding up that image is taxing.
The good news is that stress doesn't have to completely take over your life. According to the Cleveland Clinic, making time to exercise and setting a better balance between home and work are simple gestures that help to reduce stress in women. Don't forget to make time for yourself so you can be at your best in every situation.