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More overwhelmed by the mental burden and the multiple injunctions that weigh on them, women are often subjected to a high level of stress. A British study draws attention to the nature of these factors by associating them with specific age groups.
We don’t go through our 20s, 30s, or 50s with the same mindset or life goals. But women, for their part, are subject to different forms of stress as soon as they enter adulthood. A recent survey carried out for Tessy’s Brunches (a London-based women’s support network) even establishes specific age groups, corresponding to these different stressors. Most of them are strongly correlated with the mental load that women regularly face.
Concerns that change with age
With the exception of money (which concerns all respondents to a similar extent), the survey identifies three distinct periods of life.
- Women between the ages of 21 and 34, for example, say they are mostly concerned about their mental health, their careers and their friendships.
- Between the ages of 45 and 54, it is rather romantic relationships that take precedence over their concerns.
- And over the age of 65, the respondents confide that they are mainly worried about their family.
This investigation retraces the important stages of a woman’s life: her career and the desire to evolve while fearing not to succeed (the glass ceiling, you know?), the wish (or for some pressure) to start a family… Then, later, a possible divorce or a blended family to manage can occur. It is also not uncommon for women to become caregivers for one of their family members (according to several studies, caregivers are mostly women).
Social pressure that overwhelms women
The fact of associating these crucial moments of existence with the stress felt by women puts the myth of the “wonder woman” into perspective. In other words, the societal injunction that a woman “must succeed” in all these areas (professional, family, friendly), despite the psychological pressures weighing on her shoulders. And if she can do it with a smile, that’s even better!
“Women are under intense social pressure to succeed in many areas of their lives. Trying to meet these expectations imposes a huge psychological burden […]. If we want to improve the situation, the first step is certainly to recognize the existence of these obstacles to the success and happiness of women.”, supports in a press release Tessy Ojo, founder of Tessy’s Brunches.
If this survey was carried out in England, we unfortunately know that the mental load of women has no border. It would affect eight out of ten French women and interferes everywhere: at home, at work… and even during the holidays!
OnePoll survey of 1,000 women across the UK