Psychology: 4 actually healthy behaviors for which women are condemned

In the 18th and 19th centuries, so-called hysteria was one of the most commonly diagnosed "illnesses" in women. A woman who wanted to read and write? Hysterical! She had her own opinion? So hysterical! She suffered from depression? Hysterical anyway! As "treatment," such women were usually practically confined to bed by their doctors and husbands so that they no longer posed a danger to themselves or those around them.

Although the diagnosis of hysteria has fortunately not been medically recognized for a long time, the basic idea that behaviors in women that society, especially men, find objectionable are labeled as hysterical and crazy still exists today.

4 actually healthy habits for which women are still condemned 1. Living alone + having cats

The woman lives without a partner but with cats? Clearly: Crazy Cat Lady! But maybe she simply feels more comfortable being single and likes cats—what exactly is crazy about that? The social order dictates that women should want a husband and children—any lifestyle that deviates from this threatens this order and is therefore condemned. Yet the healthiest choice any person can make is to live exactly the way that feels right for them. And it's now been sufficiently proven that living with cats is beneficial to one's health anyway.

2. Have a desire for sex

A man has a lot of desire for sex? That's perfectly normal and natural; he's "just a man." However, if women dare to communicate that they enjoy sex, and, heaven forbid, perhaps even with different partners, they're obviously sluts. Wanting to have sex is completely natural—just as wanting not to. No one should be judged for how much or what kind of sex they have with whomever.

3. Want a committed relationship

There are men who want a committed relationship, and there are those who prefer to go through life alone. Likewise, some women want a partner, while others are happy to be single. There's absolutely nothing wrong with any of these options. What is definitely wrong, however, is that men often label women as "clingy" and "crazy" when, after dating for a while, they want to know if it will lead to a serious relationship. Those who communicate honestly about their desires from the outset also run no risk of being "pressured" by such a "crazy" woman who wants an exclusive relationship.

In an ideal world, we would all trust each other and no one would have had bad experiences. Unfortunately, we don't live in that world, and many people have experienced disappointment and hurt while dating and in relationships. Therefore, it's a natural reaction to do a little research on our new potential partner, for example, by checking out their Instagram profile to see how they present themselves to the world. Sure, this can quickly go a step too far if someone creates fake profiles to "test" the person. But taking a look at someone's online presence before a date to get a first impression of them is perfectly healthy—and definitely not stalking.

Just as hysteria is thankfully no longer used as a blanket response to everything that (male-dominated) society dislikes about women, other perspectives are also changing. Condemnation of women and minorities is diminishing, and tolerance for alternative lifestyles is increasing. We are fortunately on the right track—but we are still a long way from where we should be as a society.

mbl Brigitte

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