Women's Mental Illnesses in Anglophone Literature

Abstract

The study of women’s mental health has long been a topic of considerable debate and diverse perspectives. Throughout history, women have been considered more vulnerable to mental illnesses due to various factors. Feminist scholars argue that these differences are not merely biological but are deeply embedded in the gendered structures of society. As noted in a study published in “Social Science & Medicine” (1984): A consensus is emerging that women have higher rates of psychological distress and physical illness in our society and that these differences are largely due to the roles they occupy. […] Women do appear to be more likely than men to occupy a nurturant role, and such role is associated both with a high level of social demand and intrusions into one’s privacy. (Gove, 1984, p. 78 & 81)