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Author: Ivelisse Ginorio, Master's student in Clinical Social Work at Ana G. Mendez Online Campus University
The definition of World Health Organization considers health as physical, mental, and social well-being, and not only as the absence of diseases, including, therefore, a subjective component that we must take into account when addressing this issue. We believe that mental health is related to our way of living, feeding, and caring for ourselves, with our home, our work, and with the way in which we experience our relationships and affections. With what we feel towards ourselves, with our projects and activities, our way of enjoying and perceiving the world, of facing the problems and conflicts that living entails.
However, from the studies, investigations, and experiences that have been carried out, it can be understood that a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, somatizations, and eating behavior disorders is observed among women, which is conditioned by the psychosocial factors of gender. Likewise, we can see that the number of women suffering from stress has increased.
The social Image of Women in Our Society
Being a woman in our society does not mean the same for everyone. We live in a world whose reality is diverse and depends on our environment, our economic possibilities, age, education, and work... But even taking this into account, we can talk about common feelings, experiences, and situations that we share as women. Does only a few years, being a woman meant dedicating ourselves solely to caring for the family. There were not many possibilities to choose and decide on our own way of life. The internalization of social norms and cultural values about how women should be, feel, and behave sometimes become psychological barriers that prevent us from feeling good and being freer to decide about our lives.
However, women have made important personal and collective changes. We have accessed education to a greater extent and more and more women are considering getting a job and economic independence. We are modifying the way of living motherhood, relationships, sexuality, and daily life, changing values and attitudes. Making these personal and social changes can be an effort that generates psychological tension. Not meeting the established ideal models can cause criticism from the people around us, which sometimes makes us feel guilty and insecure. It seems that the great beneficiaries of this transformation are women, because with it we gain freedom and autonomy, and we have more possibilities of realization, more options, and greater decision-making capacity.
Women's Daily Life
Some women dedicate most of their time to housework. This job can generate social isolation and dissatisfaction since it is a repetitive and monotonous task, it does not have hours or vacations, and it leaves little time for other activities. Assuming the role of housewife implies the responsibility for the education of daughters and sons, ensuring the well-being and health of the whole family. We need our own life project that is not based on the people around us. Not only exist as a "daughter of...", "woman of..." or "mother of..." but rather have motivations, own desires, time to interact, be able to make decisions, and direct our lives in such a way that we are satisfied and have illusions on a daily basis. Women who have a job tend to value it as something positive for our health since it can make it easier for us to relate and be more financially independent. However, there are positions that only provide us with financial compensation and can cause us greater fatigue and stress.
Despite this overload, we have greater autonomy that helps us negotiate the distribution of household work and live in more egalitarian relationships. If we focus our lives and our expectations of personal fulfillment solely on caring for the family or on professional development, it makes us lose other very important aspects of life and can harm us.
In moments of crisis, problems, and difficulties, the support and company of our friends are a great help. Also participating in community activities in our neighborhood, in social and political organizations, and in women's, cultural, artistic, or leisure associations. Remember that….
Putting a schedule to housework allows us to have time to carry out activities, train, interact, have fun…
Share responsibilities with the couple and involve the daughters and sons and the elders of the house in the tasks according to their age and capacity.
When we have to take care of other family members, the elderly, or the sick, we must consider seeking help from those around us to share the attention they require, as well as inform ourselves of the social benefits that we can access.
We need to change our attitudes and the organization of work, social, and family life so that we can develop and enjoy different facets of our lives, as well as our personal time.
Body Image
With our body we communicate and express ourselves, we feel pleasure and pain, we get excited, we think, we imagine, we enjoy movement, we work, and a long list of things that we can continue. Remember that…. Accepting, enjoying, and valuing our body is necessary to feel good: listening to our body to know how we feel and what we need.
Do not put so many expectations on our physical appearance: there are other ways to achieve personal acceptance or professional success.
Share our feelings, worries, and desires with people who help us in our personal growth and make us feel loved and valued.
Performing physical exercise as a possibility to enjoy and have fun and not exclusively as a sacrifice to maintain a slim figure.
Our Sexuality
Sexuality is a potential source of pleasure, communication, and creativity... We have a great capacity to enjoy our sensations. Sexuality is not just penetration, it is enjoying caresses, feeling the warmth of the other body, and feeling our own. Intercourse is only one of the possibilities and not necessarily the most pleasurable. It is convenient that we reflect and ask ourselves what we want and communicate with our partners.
It is important to know ourselves and recognize when we can face conflicting situations that allow us to carry out our daily or work tasks. Taking care of our physical and mental state gives us a better quality of life.
Video: https://youtu.be/z6SAkO0oxvg
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