Despite having laws in place to protect women from gender discrimination in the workplace, it still happens, and it can leave lasting impacts on the victim.
Gender discrimination in any form can leave negative, long-lasting mental health effects on any woman. However, workplace gender discrimination can be an entirely different animal. The effects of gender discrimination in the workplace run deep and are multi-faceted. Read on to learn the mental and social effects of workplace gender discrimination and what you can do to take your power back.
Social and Financial Impacts
While socially, a woman may withdraw, she may also become isolated from her peers, especially if she loves her job. For most adults, the workplace is a place to network and make friends. If a victim is not believed or becomes untrusting of her peers, she may lose a large portion of her support system.It can also leave women destitute, especially if they’re a victim of pregnancy discrimination specifically. Without equal or steady income, it can become difficult to take care of oneself, let alone a child. They may also be forced to take one or multiple separate jobs in order to sustain their lifestyle.
Mental Health Effects
If you’ve been able to identify the signs of gender discrimination in the workplace, more than likely, it was either very overt or so underhanded that you didn’t recognize it until it was too late. Either way, whether you’ve been a victim of the pay gap, harassment, or pregnancy discrimination, your mental health may have taken a toll.
Often, women can experience signs of depression and anxiety. This can be due to an inability to leave the situation and having been exposed to a hostile work environment for an extended period of time. It can also lead to a decreased sense of self-worth and a lack of trust in prospective jobs. If this has taken a financial toll, a sense of hopelessness and a loss of one’s previous passions may quickly follow suit, especially if her social circle has taken a hit. Remember that exposure to a hostile work environment can lead to trauma or trauma-like symptoms, especially over long periods of time. If you’re experiencing any of what has been listed above, take the time to speak to a mental health professional to help you with the healing process.
How To Take Back Your Power
Gender discrimination is by no means a victimless crime. On the contrary, it can leave a woman different than she was before. And with the overall culture and ideology of this being a thing of the past, it can leave women afraid to speak out, lest they be ridiculed or called a liar. But remember, if you’ve been a victim of gender discrimination, they want you to be quiet.
No matter what you’ve experienced, you have the right to be loud about it, whether that’s in the form of quitting or legal action. Take time to care for yourself, like engaging in therapy, attending women-centred gyms, workshops, or jobs, and find your passion again. It may take time but giving yourself space to heal is the best thing you can do for yourself.
As previously stated, the effects of gender discrimination in the workplace run deep and can shatter lives. If you feel like you’ve been a victim, there’s no better day than today to take action and start prioritizing yourself.
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