Women and Mental Health: The Unequal Treatment

Abstract

The paper reviews the medical treatment of women with mental illness in regards to past and present type of treatments. The research focuses solely on how certain social constructs such as class, race, and gender play a dominant role in how accessible medical treatment is to women in all demographics and how these forms of treatments are controlled by a predominantly white male system. The paper then correlates the difference in treatment between black and white bodies and what social aspects has created this rift between women. The thesis statement brings up the question of how the social hierarchy controls the way mental health care is distributed amongst women in regard to it falling under white male authority. Looking at both historical data and present human case studies done about this topic, researchers found that the main reason women regardless of color are subjected to this inferior complex is because our culture mandates itself off a very sexist and prejudice way of running a civilization. With our society projecting these ideals into our schools, work places, even our homes, women are forced to follows these conditions in fear of being isolated and stigmatized by others which as researchers found is primarily why they never seek care.