Volume-X, Issue-VI, November 2024 |
Mental Health and Gender Roles: Differences
of Gender in the Perception of Mental Health in
India’s Working-Class Population Abanti
Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor, Department
of Psychology, Government General Degree College, Singur, West Bengal, India |
Received: 30.09.2024 | Accepted: 18.10.2024 | Published Online: 30.11.2024 | Page No: 94-102 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.10.issue.06W.009 | |||||||
ABSTRACT | ||
This article analyses the gendered differences in the perception of mental health within India's working-class population, with a focus on how socio-cultural factors and gender roles shape mental health outcomes. The article examines how poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and social isolation exacerbate mental health challenges for women in low-income settings. Women, particularly those who have experienced adverse reproductive outcomes, report higher levels of mental distress than men. These disparities are rooted in societal expectations that position men as stoic providers and women as primary caregivers, leading to varying experiences of mental health issues. Furthermore, Gender disparities are prominently observed in the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs), with women exhibiting higher rates, particularly in conditions such as depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints. Access to mental health care presents a substantial challenge for India's working-class population, with gender serving as a crucial determinant in shaping this access. The article emphasizes the need to challenge traditional gender norms and improve access to gender-sensitive mental health services in India's working-class communities. Keywords: Gender Differences, Mental Health, Working-Class, Reproductive Health, Socio-Cultural Factors. |