Written by When we think of women, we typically think of their roles as women. Our imagination leads us to a caretaker and a nurturer. The definition and roles of women have evolved over the years. Typically before modernization, women were confined to the home, as time evolved and the thinking broadened, women and the people surrounding them gained a perspective that they too are meant for bigger roles outside of the home. If you ask a 90s kid today how your parents managed the house and ask contemporary couples about the same, the answer will vary. The ’90s kid might say that their father earned money and their mother cooked food, their father taught practical subjects like maths and science while their mother instilled values and morals. While Dad looked after our bike and car, Mother looked after the house. All the tasks were divided according to the general capability of the fellow parent.
As urbanization and modernization took over the globe, these dynamics have shifted to both parents coming home to household chores. In this fast-paced world, work does get hectic, it becomes difficult to manage both house and work at the same time. This is when couples end up having a helper, cook, and car to travel to work making life a little easier but does it? When a family does not have enough funds for such comfort and luxury the pressure naturally comes on the woman of the house to cook, clean, and manage the household and domestic relationships. Not because the people surrounding them are forcing them to do it but because that has been their natural role from the start of the human race. But contemporary times require balance. Now you may wonder what is the problem here.
As a woman ages, she goes through certain biological changes that affect their emotions and how they react to situations. In a broader view, certain circumstances and instances lead to various psychological issues such as chronic stress, weak self-image, self-doubt, depression, insomnia, postpartum depression, and existential crisis. Aging plays a pivotal role in these psychological changes. Aging is an inevitable process that we all embark upon. As for women, the passage of time comes with several sets of hurdles often amplified by societal expectations, stereotypes, and deeply ingrained biases.
The Emotional Rollercoaster
One of the most common struggles women face as they age is an identity crisis. For years, their identities are often intertwined with the social roles they play. Imagine a woman who is newly married, shy, and anxious about her future in the new home. With thoughts racing for her parents and an unseen pressure of doing good in a new home. Fighting, striving through her thoughts she somehow manages to make the new home her own. But that is not where problems end.
Soon family hints at the need for an heir and her typical role is to be fulfilled. Unsure of her capability, the young woman agrees to have a baby and bravely sustains the excruciating pain of rearing a child. The struggle of 9 months, uncontrolled urination, extreme mood swings, and not being able to eat anything or take medicines, and the society’s pressure typically seen in Inida of rearing a male child. After bravely, sustaining all this comes postpartum depression which not many are even aware of.
Society seems to ignore the emotional turmoil that comes after giving birth. After breaking almost The problem arises when the woman of the house puts everyone and everything before her and loses her own identity as an individual. As children grow up and careers plateau, many women feel the emptiness creep in. For years their life purpose has become to cater to others’ needs, and they forget how to live for themselves. This is when reflecting upon the self becomes the most important. A complimentary aspect affecting psychological issues is the hormonal fluctuations in a woman.
The Physical Wave
Aging brings inevitable physical and biological changes. Some of them include wrinkles, gray hair, stretch marks, weight fluctuations, and declining energy levels. It is often heard that after the age of 30 women’s bone density decreases and that’s when knee aches start. Declining estrogen levels, especially during perimenopause and menopause, accelerate this loss as estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining bone density by regulating bone breakdown.
Imagine shouting at your son for no reason as such and getting in a dispute only to feel guilty later on. Being in a confused state of helplessness and not knowing what you are facing and why you are facing it. That is Menopause.
According to psychologists, Menopause is the most crucial stage in a woman’s life. The age group in this transition is 40 to 65 years of age. Menopause brings a variety of changes- hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, sleep disturbances, and a decrease in bone density which impacts not only the physical but emotional well-being of the woman. Alongside, this is the age where there is a diverse array of changes taking place such as health concerns, family problems, work-related issues, deaths, frustrated goal attainment, and financial worries.
Professional Challenges
In the workplace, aging women face various challenges as men in their 50s are considered wise, and experienced women of the same age are deemed “past their prime.” This bias hinders advancement, leaving many women stuck in mid-level positions or facing forced early retirement. For example, a 50-year-old marketing manager may be passed over for a promotion in favor of a younger colleague, despite her extensive experience. The assumption that older women are less adaptable to technology or modern trends is not only incorrect but also deeply unfair.
Loneliness and Isolation
As women age, their social circle often shrinks. Friends move away or a busy with their own lives and for some, widowhood brings a profound sense of isolation. Society rarely addresses the loneliness that women endure leaving many to cope alone. Women who have no access or little access to social circles end up lonely and isolated in their homes or at the workplace. With their naturally sensitive outlook, they feel the urge to prove themselves to everyone and work that extra mile to get the recognition that they deserve.
Financial Dependence and Vulnerability.
Women in today’s era are financially independent but often due to personal and domestic reasons, they might have to take a gap from work which leads to inconsistency in work. For instance, a woman takes a year-long pregnancy leave and is later allowed to work from home. However, handling an infant child along with meeting the deadlines makes life difficult. Women who have spent their lives as homemakers often find themselves financially relying on spouses or children for support
All these problems and issues are commonly faced by women but tackling them can be overwhelming and tiring. In the next week, we will discuss how women can tackle these issues with courage, resilience, support, and hope. Keep Reading Foramz for a daily dose of moral support.
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