I find the following point made by Mary Jackson in response to the assertion that feminism leads women to depression funny. I find it funny because t shows that it is possible to assert outrageous things without proof about women, feminism, and its consequences and to be taken seriously. In other words, feminization is used as a tool to say stupid things and reaffirm old prejudices without defend them rationally. :
Low expectations may keep us content, but they can also make us complacent and, worse still, fatalistic. Feminism has not been an unalloyed good; few changes are solely for the better. But I do not believe it is the main cause of “rising depression” among women. Feminism aside, I would take issue with the very wording of the piece, and of the women themselves, that is with the word “depressed”.
Women generally talk about their feelings more than men do. In the past they might have described themselves as “sad” or “fed up” or said things like “mustn’t grumble”. Now, when unhappy or disappointed – and nobody can avoid unhappiness or disappointment – they are more likely to say they are “depressed” and, as Theodore Dalrymple knows only too well, to demand a pill for it.
[…] Feminism has given women more choices, and perhaps those choices have made us discontented. But that is not a clinical matter. Neither women nor men should call themselves “depressed” when they are in fact sad, lonely, frightened, restless, dissatisfied or angry. Depression is not a feminist issue.
