Health may be a popular topic of conversation on social media, but in day-to-day life, it is sometimes surrounded by stigma. All too frequently, women discuss health issues in changing rooms, small gatherings, or private messages. Many experience a range of health issues, ranging from fertility struggles to perimenopause silently, for reasons such as a wish to soldier on, prioritize others, or maintain a composed, attractive persona. Stigma, however, can have a powerful emotional impact. It can isolate women and intensify unrealistic expectations around beauty, youth, fertility, and physical perfection. Normalizing conversations about health is a powerful way for women to take back their voice and feel like part of something larger than themselves.
How Silence Impacts Mental Health
Studies have shown that remaining silent about health concerns, such as mental health, increases women’s vulnerability to issues such as depression. Both cultural and systemic silencing and lack of validation are also linked to chronic anxiety, suppressed anger, and even a higher risk of premature death. Self-abnegation can lead to a diminished sense of self, potentially resulting in worthlessness and resentment. It also has a physiological impact on the body, elevating stress hormones and increasing the risk of clinical depression and anxiety.
Issues Impacting Identity
As mentioned, cultural forces are major factors in keeping women silent. For instance, from a very young age, women are taught that their appearance is important to both themselves and others. Cultures the world over put women’s and girls’ bodies at the focal point, attaching connotations such as sexuality to beauty. These ideals subtly pressure girls and women to adopt unhealthy eating habits in an effort to achieve the Western standard of beauty, which values slenderness. Embedded norms regarding how one should look, many of which are unattainable, affect the feelings and thoughts of women. They may avoid speaking about issues such as perimenopause to maintain the illusion of youth, or avoid discussing anxiety or depression in an effort to fulfill the role of a protector instead of asking for help. Sadly, these norms are often passed down from generation to generation, preventing women from sharing and accessing information and from feeling part of a supportive group.
The Power of Open Conversations
Discussing health conditions is a vital way for women to increase their awareness of various health issues, seek early diagnosis, and access support networks. Friends, healthcare professionals, online communities, and public speakers can help break the cycle of shame and encourage women to put their health before the need to appear “perfect.” Open discussions end stigma, encourage women to ask questions, and empower them to discover solutions. Take the issue of hair loss in women, which can arise owing to factors such as menopause, hormonal changes, skin disorders, and autoimmune conditions. Keeping this issue under wraps hides the many approaches and treatments that can make a big difference, but it can also hide other health issues, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, which can cause hair loss. Discussion with other women and with medical professionals alike can boost the likelihood of early diagnosis and treatment, which can be life-saving in some cases.
Embracing a Culture of Honesty
Encouraging women to speak more openly about health issues begins with educating girls about issues such as menstrual health, body changes, and mental well-being. Girls, women, and health professionals alike must be made aware of the fact that women’s health is not a vanity issue and that it is vital to seek medical attention and emotional support when symptoms arise. Governments can play a big role in encouraging advocacy. Campaigns can help raise awareness of the importance of asking questions, seeking second opinions, discussing symptoms openly, and prioritizing preventative care. Physicians should be taught to use compassionate, judgment-free communication and to ask questions relevant to each patient’s lifestyle, age, and habits. These questions can relate to reproductive health symptoms, as well as mental health and overall physical health and well-being.
Women’s health in the U.S. and beyond needs to be discussed openly and frequently, not just in private settings. Openness reduces stigma and helps raise awareness about health conditions affecting women. It encourages them to seek a diagnosis and receive treatment for both physical and mental conditions, thereby improving their quality of life and empowering them to be their best selves.
