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Women are much unhappier than men – and it’s their fault

Women are much unhappier than men - and it's their fault
Women are much unhappier than men – and it’s their fault

In this week’s Success Newsletter, I would like to reveal that studies expose that women are much unhappier than men – and it’s women’s fault!

First a quick update:

“Societal expectations of women and shame”
Shame is the feeling and belief that there is something wrong with you and therefore you don’t deserve love or connection. What is the link between what society expects of women and shame? https://patrickwanis.com/blog/societal-expectations-women-shame/

Follow me on Twitter– You can now choose to follow me and receive a few words of wisdom on Twitter: @Behavior_Expert   https://twitter.com/Behavior_Expert

“Link between power, sex & cheating”
Why do so many powerful men cheat? Power corrupts. How so? What causes celebrities to cheat? Watch the video: https://youtu.be/n-Itu6EOV9I


Now, let’s talk about studies revealing women are much unhappier than men – and it’s women’s fault!

Feminism began as a movement in the 1960s to liberate women – to try and correct inequalities in society for women – to give women independence, power, equal career opportunities and other social justices.

More than 45 years after feminism, studies reveal that women are unhappier than they have ever been – even unhappier than the 1950s housewife which feminism tried to liberate.

Here is a summary:

CDC reports women suffer more than men from frequent mental distress. Women report feeling stressed, depressed, or having problems with their emotions fourteen or more days out of the month.

More women than men are unhappy in their marriage (and in cohabitation relationships) and are more likely to end the relationship.

‘Baby blues’ have risen sharply compared to 30 years ago.

“Women’s happiness has declined both absolutely and relative to men…women in the 1970s typically reported higher subjective well-being than did men. These declines have continued and a new gender gap is emerging – one with higher subjective well-being for men.” I.e. men are happier than women now. Women are unhappier than men regardless of whether or not they are working, stay-at-home moms, married or divorced, young or old, well-educated or not.

Women are unhappy and it’s their own fault!

Why is it “their own fault”?

Women have been telling each other that they can have it all, they can have the perfect life, and by doing so, they have created false, fake, unattainable standards for themselves.

Women’s unhappiness is due to the fact that they have created truly unattainable expectations for themselves!

If you are woman, consider what you expect of yourself, and from where those expectations came. They did not come from men.

Women are expected to be, do, and have it all! Jada Pinkett Smith told women they could have it all.  So did Oprah and many others. It is the message that is reinforced by advertising, media and even social media:

Physically perfect, eternally young, independent, wealthy, successful, glamorous, famous, fabulous mother who has so much free time and dines at the best restaurants and enjoys spas, massages and yoga on a regular basis.

“You can’t be a fully engaged 100% all in parent who attends every recital and game and raises super kids and at the same time have a mega-career, a stellar marriage and sex life, an array of real friends, a fabulous home, an extensive travel experience – not without having inherited several generations of wealth attended by trustworthy managers. The reason women are unhappy is that they bought into an image not unlike the one they decry in airbrushed magazine cover models. They compare the airbrushed ideal of “everything” to their regular, largely average lives and get filled with envy.” – Debra Blouin

This dangerous, destructive, crippling message is everywhere and women have become the consumer, driver and self-inflicted victim.

Essena O’Neill had half a million followers on Instagram alone and made an income off her posts. The 18-year-old from Australia boldly quit the platform and revealed the truth – O’Neill would calorie-restrict her diets, exercise excessively and was given the clothes and paid up to $2000 per post to wear a dress and tag the brand; she would yell at her younger sister to keep taking photos – 100 photos until she got one that made her “stomach look good”. And then she would edit the photos before posting!

“I’ve spent the majority of my teenage life being addicted to social media, social approval, social status, and my physical appearance…[Social media] is contrived images and edited clips ranked against each other. It’s a system based on social approval, likes, validation, in views, success in followers. it’s perfectly orchestrated self-absorbed judgement…I felt incredibly alone.”

What is the solution?

Stop exposing yourself to fake unachievable standards.
Stop being fooled by the “50 is the new 30” advertisements.
Stop pursuing eternal youth.
Stop reading about the post-baby body, bottom, boobs, hips, thighs or legs of Jessica Simpson, Kim Kardashian or some other celebrity.
Stop comparing yourself to other women.
Stop trying to get more and more likes for your latest selfie on social-media.

Start embracing who you truly are.
Start accepting and liking yourself for who you are right now.
Start setting your own standards for your appearance and health.
Start setting new goals for your life based on your own authentic desires and passions.
Start teaching every woman in your life – daughter, sister, best friend – to be grateful for all that she is, including her ever-evolving body, mind and spirit.

Read my article – an interview with Dr. Vicki Panaccione of the Better Parenting Institute exploring the impact on children and husbands by women who want to have it all: https://patrickwanis.com/blog/women-want-it-all-but-cant-children-husbands-marriages-suffer/

“Women’s lives have become more like men’s over the last 35 years. Men have historically been less happy than women. So it might not be surprising if the things in the workplace that always made men unhappy are now bedeviling women as well.” – Steven D. Levitt  https://freakonomics.com/2007/10/01/why-are-women-so-unhappy/

If you need assistance to like, love and accept yourself, consider a private, one-on-one session with me. Click here to book your session. https://www.patrick-wanis.com/phone-consultations/

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I wish you the best and remind you “Believe in yourself -You deserve the best!”

Patrick Wanis Ph.D.
Celebrity Life Coach, Human Behavior & Relationship Expert & SRTT Therapist
www.patrickwanis.com

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