Why are women so emotional, as opposed to men?

Why are women so emotional

Kakali Das

In ancient Indian philosophical texts, emotions were viewed as a sign of uncontrollable desires, but they weren’t gendered.

It was in the medieval period when humans began focusing on the study of emotions, that the stereotype of women being overly-emotional took hold, especially in medical and juridical sciences.

From the early modern period, ‘affect control,’ or being able to suppress your emotions became an important marker of strength of character, for men. Women were perceived as being inferior beings, who lacked the moral willpower and discipline to moderate their emotions.

In the 17^th century, hysteria emerged as a modern medical diagnosis that blamed women’s excessive emotions on the positions of their wombs. Throughout the 18^th and 19^th centuries, doctors diagnosed women with hysteria. By 1952, the hysteria diagnosis was abandoned, but the stereotype of women being hysterical has stuck.

In Indian movies and TV, women are associated with having emotional outbursts and nervous breakdowns, they are often portrayed as ‘crazy’ or ‘dramatic,’ while men are depicted as calm or rational. Psychologists point out that even in interpersonal relationships, partners often use the ‘you’re being too emotional’ line of argument, to shut women down, even if a woman has a good reason to be upset.

A recent study via Microsoft Research found that men and women express emotions at equal rates. The big difference is which emotions they express. Men were more likely to show their anger and women were more likely to express happiness and sadness. Research shows that women tend to manage their emotions better.

And yet, somehow we’re the ‘hysterical’ ones who can’t control our emotions?! And this stereotype isn’t limited to pop culture or our personal lives, it has dangerous consequences in women’s professional lives too. For, instance, until 1983, women were barred from the U.S. space programme, due to concerns of having such ‘temperamental psycho-physiologic humans’ on board.

An influential study on workplace gender stereotypes found that even when people were informed that a female manager was objectively successful, they expected her to be more emotional, and a less stable leader than a man. In fact, a range of academic research shows that women in professional settings face immense pressure to maintain a cool exterior, if they want to become leaders. Men, on the other hand, are rewarded for showing passion and conviction, in other words, for expressing strong emotion.

Here’s a thing though, people think that men are better decision makers because they think rationally, unlike women who react emotionally. This notion is based on the presumption that logic should be devoid of emotion, when in fact, research has shown that irrespective of whether you express them, emptions always guide rational decision making.

Not only do women express their emotions more, but the fact that they outperform men in processing emotional information, actually helps them make more rational decisions.

On the other hand, the fact that we glorify suppressing emotions, has negatively impacted men’s mental health, and may very well be leading them to poor decision-making. So, maybe, it’s time, not only to reconsider why we’ve framed women as being ‘overly emotional,’ but to also consider why we think expressing emotions is a bad thing.

There is strength in being emotional, and in learning to express and process your emotions in a healthy way. So let’s recognise that and value it.

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