The Impact of Societal Expectations on Women’s Well Being
Nilsu Gür
As women, we are presented with many societal expectations since the day we are born. Those expectations are both unrealistic and harmful to our mental health. Some of those expectations include: dressing in typical feminine ways, being polite, nurturing, being the lady of the house and taking care of the children and chores and many others like that. Through those set boundaries, we are expected to fit into certain roles and responsibilities that may not be suitable for us. As a result, this ongoing pressure on women leads to many mental health issues depending on how we see ourselves and measure our self worth.
The socialization of women is a complex and powerful force that shapes how we think and behave. Girls are inundated with messages about what it means to be a woman and how to manage their roles and obligations from an early age. These cultural norms can have a significant effect on our views and mental health. Reinforcing certain fundamental values is one of the main ways that women are socialized. We are taught that being a good looker, pleasing other people, and being a caregiver determines a woman's value. Beauty standards are highly valued by society, which pushes us to conform to unrealistic and frequently unachievable ideals. Low self-esteem, problems with body image, and even eating disorders can result from the ongoing pressure to live up to these expectations. It is also expected of women to succeed professionally and perform caregiving responsibilities at the same time. This delicate balancing effort can frequently seem unachievable, which can cause anxiety, tension, and guilt. The pressure to fulfill these roles flawlessly can lead to burnout and a loss of our own identity and desires, as well as oversexualizaiton of the self to gain more attention from society. Therefore, it is essential for us women to recognize and challenge these societal expectations and embrace our authentic selves.
The idea that our value as women is dependent on how we look is one of the fundamental ideas that has been engrained in us. Images of immaculate models and celebrities are all around us, pushing an ideal of beauty that is frequently false and unreachable. Low self-esteem, problems with body image, and even eating disorders can result from the ongoing pressure to meet these beauty standards. In an attempt to achieve these unachievable standards, we find ourselves devoting endless hours and financial resources to cosmetic products and procedures.
What can be done for women’s mental health?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a therapeutic technique that can be an effective means of overcoming trauma and destructive beliefs. It has been demonstrated that this type of therapy is quite successful in assisting patients in processing and recovering from traumatic events, including those involving demands imposed on women by society.
In order to treat negative beliefs and patterns, EMDR involves retrieving and reinterpreting upsetting memories or experiences. Through the use of bilateral stimulation, such as hand taps or eye movements, EMDR facilitates the integration of new information and the establishment of more adaptive beliefs by igniting the brain's natural healing process.
Coping with the trauma of striving to live up to false expectations can also be aided by EMDR. The pressure to be flawless in all spheres of life, including work, relationships, and parenting, has been felt by a lot of women. These expectations may cause emotions of inadequacy, guilt, and overwhelm. People can heal and build better coping strategies by working through the underlying feelings and ideas associated with these traumas using EMDR.
Dear readers,
I know how it feels. I know how it feels like you have to have the smoothest skin, skinniest body, perfect hair, beautiful nails, plumped lips, small nose, red cheeks… Lots of girls grow up thinking that they have to fit in the ideal creation of a girl in society’s mind. That is what ruins their teenage years, that is what ruins our confidence, our self love. We are not supposed to love our unique selves, we are supposed to be the “pretty” girl according to society’s expectations. That is what they say. That is what they say that puts pressure on us, makes us anxious and uncomfortable with our own selves. Women are expected to be calm and not meddle in “manly” things that require any traditionally and culturally accepted masculine behaviors. This even goes to the extent to which society groups jobs, hobbies according to masculinity and femininity. This is what limits us.
We have to get rid of the labels and expectations that society puts on us. We need to love ourselves as we are. We need to accept our own identity and be proud of our uniqueness. We need to embrace all of our mistakes and achievements that make us, us. Don’t be so hard on yourself, learn to forgive yourself for the mistakes you’ve done before and don’t let anyone take you down.
It is your first time living in this world.