The study, conducted by Dr Demid Getik, explores how mental health is related to income make-up within couples by examining the link between annual income rises for women and the number of clinical mental health diagnoses over a set period of time.
The study finds that as more women take on the breadwinner role in the household, the number of mental health related incidences also increases.
As wives begin earning more than their husbands, the probability of receiving a mental health diagnosis increases by as much as 8% for all those observed in the study, but by as much as 11% for the men.
Specifically on women’s mental health deteriorating in this situation, often this can occur when she’s still expected to pick up the majority (or all) of domestic labor in addition to her well-paying job. Women are still largely expected to “do it all” by not only their partners but by society. If you’re not a perfect businesswoman, mother, and domestic servant all in one all the time, well you’re failing your spouse, your children, your boss, your identity as a woman, etc. Women don’t just need their male partners to step up for them in labor alone, but also to reevaluate their social role that they are propagating through their (in)actions. What are you teaching your kid if mom is the only one who cooks dinner? Or cleans regularly without reminders? Or keeps track of doctor’s visits, field trips, etc?
I was curious on that too. I think just saying they’re more stressed feeds into the “You little ladies don’t really like working, makes that brain hurt” rhetoric.
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