Women account for 80% of autoimmune disorders, conditions where the immune system attacks its own tissues. Every 4 out of 5 people living with autoimmune diseases are women. In fact, according to a Stanford-Medicine-led study, “Rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and scleroderma are examples of autoimmune disorders marked by lopsided female-to-male ratios. The ratio for lupus is 9 to 1; for Sjogren’s syndrome, it’s 19 to 1.” Researchers investigating this disparity have noted correlations between these conditions and differences in hormones, genetics, and even environmental factors. However, gender roles and societal expectations also play a major role.
In his book, The Myth of Normal, author and physician Gabor Mate writes how gendered qualities often praised by society are killing women, particularly self-silencing. He explains, “‘Not listening to self’ in order to prioritize others’ needs is a significant source of the health-impairing roles women assume…It is among the medically overlooked but pernicious ways in which our society’s ‘normal’ imposes a major health cost on women.” Self-silencing and repression are predisposing women to serious medical conditions.
In March 2022, University of Pittsburg researchers surveyed and medically examined women of color in a study linking self-silencing and cardiovascular health. Women of color who strongly agreed with statements like, “I rarely express my anger to those close to me,” were 70% more likely to experience cardiovascular plaque that could lead to heart attacks. Other studies linked cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, HIV, and chronic fatigue syndrome to self-silencing. Many women know not expressing their emotions and prioritizing everyone else’s needs is taking a toll on their mental and physical health, yet they feel unable to change. For many, it feels easier and even more beneficial to endure rather than fight against existing cultural expectations, which can be exhausting in itself.
The research linking self-silencing and autoimmune disorders highlights the urgent need for societal reform. Fostering environments where women feel safe, supported, and empowered to express themselves can dramatically improve women’s mental and physical well-being.
SOURCES
https://time.com/6319549/silencing-women-sick-essay
https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/02/women-autoimmune.html