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How is Stress affected by Individual Differences
How is Stress affected by Individual Differences?
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How is Stress affected by Individual Differences?
Introduction
According to prior research, every person is likely to have experienced a stressful situation or experience in their life. However, different people experience different types of stress due to factors such as age, gender, level of education, physical appearance, socioeconomic background, and race, among other factors. These factors which promote individuality make people experience stress differently. In other words, what person A defines as stressful, person B may not find stressful at all. This paper discusses individual differences and the different types of stress. It also illustrates how stress is affected by individual differences.
Stress can occasionally be a valuable tool for increasing vitality and focus. However, stress often negatively influences a human being’s life, leading to various undesirable outcomes. Since almost everyone experiences stress, everyone can gain from understanding the situation (Boogert et al., 2018). One can start to combat the consequences of stress by becoming aware of how pervasive and detrimental it is. Everyone is susceptible to the effects of stress, irrespective of age, gender, race, or faith. Stress numbers are alarming since they show how common this mental condition is. 33% of Americans say they are under much stress. Stress negatively impacts 77% of people’s general well-being. Stress negatively affects the mental state of 73% of individuals (Sangalang et al., 2019). Finally, stress causes 48% of people to experience sleep problems. Regrettably, stress levels have risen rather than decreased for nearly 50% of all Americans.
People seem to believe they are knowledgeable about stress and its dangers; however, with familiarity with its figures and facts, one can truly comprehend its consequences. By having full knowledge of the implications of stress caused by individual differences, people are more likely to understand their stress triggers and learn to avoid them or seek the necessary help (Sangalang et al., 2019).
Review of Literature
Individual Differences
Many people have previously defined individual differences in several ways. Based on all the definitions, individual differences are the factors that make people stand out from different from one another. These factors include age, gender, intelligence, ethnicity, race, and physical appearance. Today, individual differences can also be based on social, cultural, mental, and physical personalities, which differ from one person to another.
Types of Individual Differences
First is the physical appearance, whose differences can be noticed easily. It is based on features such as tall or short, dark or fair complexion, thin or plump, and strong or weak. Individual differences can also be due to differences in intelligence (Wang et al., 2018). Intelligence is measured based on Intelligence Quotient (IQ). People with an IQ higher than 120 are said to be geniuses; those with 120 are said to be expected, while those with an IQ of 0-50 are considered foolish. Individual differences can also be due to different attitudes toward people or situations. The different achievements people attain in their lifetime also build different personalities. These achievements may be due to the level of education, interests, abilities, or skills.
Another individual difference is due to gender differences. Women have different traits and interests compared to men. Even as they grow, girls play with dolls and are sensitive compared to boys, who play with action figures and portray much bravery. Some differences are brought about by nationality and race (Wang et al., 2018). People who grow up in different environmental and geographical conditions are not likely to have similar traits. People with different economic statuses behave differently. The rich are more confident, while the poor are humbler. Emotional differences also cause individual differences. Some people get angrier than others; hence, they are more likely to commit crimes such as murder due to anger (Wang et al., 2018). Other people are calmer and rarely get angry.
The main factor that stands out as individual differences is personality differences. These differences vary from one person to another and not on the common factors of age, gender, level of education, race, or nationality. They are grouped into six groups. Spranger includes theoretical, economic, aesthetic, social, religious, and political (Thielman et al., 2020). Jung includes introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts. Trotter, which includes the stable-minded and the unstable-minded. Jordan, which includes active and reflective personalities. Lastly, we have Terman, which has classified people based on their intelligence, from geniuses to idiots.
Causes of Individual Differences
There are several major causes of individual differences. The main one is hereditary, whereby people inherit certain features such as hair and eye color, skin types, baldness, and the likelihood of getting some diseases such as cancer and TB, other including intelligence, attitudes, and prejudices (Wang et al., 2018). The environment can also significantly cause individual differences among people when they grow. The environment consists of physical, intellectual, social, moral, political, economic, and cultural effects. These forces impact the type of person a child will become growing up. Another cause is race and nationality. Most likely, people from different races and nationalities have different individualities due to their upbringing and beliefs (Wang et al., 2018). Gender is also another cause of individual differences. Society expects women to behave differently from men.
Age increases from the growth of the body, mind, and emotions. Because everyone has a different level of intelligence, many people are different. Education is quite challenging for those whose intellect and mental capacity are below average, while education comes easily to intelligent people (Wang et al., 2018). Some individuals are innately swift and energetic, while others are lethargic and slow. Some individuals are amused, while others are easily irritated. Bodily, psychological, and external factors all have varied effects on a person’s emotional health. Individual differences result from variations in emotional stability. Individual variances are also influenced by the parent’s financial situation and the kids’ educational attainment. The offspring of two different income levels cannot be compared or treated equally (Wang et al., 2018). Other factors contributing to individual differences include hobbies, aptitudes, accomplishments, attitudes, demeanor, schooling, and family background.
Stress
People experience stress as a result of tension or danger. It typically occurs when they are in circumstances that they do not believe they have any control or management over. People can experience stress when juggling many responsibilities (Epel et al., 2018). A family can experience stress due to bereavement or financial problems. People also experience stress from discrimination based on ethnic, racial, and religious differences. Lately, the whole world has experienced stress caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Other experiences that may cause stress include feeling under lots of pressure, facing huge transitions in your life such as a new job, moving to a new city or giving birth to a baby, being worried about something, not having enough work or activities in your work and going through a period of uncertainty (Epel et al., 2018).
Signs and Symptoms of Stress
Numerous factors, including people’s bodies, emotions, and behavior, can all be impacted by stress. Often, people can immediately identify when they are under stress. However, on other occasions, they might continue without noticing the warnings (Epel et al., 2018). Signs and symptoms of stress are primarily based on how people feel, their physical signs, and how they behave. When experiencing stress, people are likely to feel angry, worried, lonely, depressed, unhappy, overwhelmed, and afraid. Physical signs include panic attacks, difficulty breathing, high blood pressure, insomnia, dizziness, fatigue, constipation or diarrhea, sudden weight loss or weight gain, heartburn, and changes in the menstrual cycle. Behavior change is also likely (Epel et al., 2018). They start to eat more or eat less, have no interest in intimate activities, bite their fingernails, have a hard time making decisions or concentrating, crying most of the time, use recreational drugs more often than they used to and spend their money unnecessarily.
Stress Management
Sometimes it can be challenging to end stress because it comes with life’s responsibilities, but it is possible to manage the stress to avoid the long-term adverse effects. There are several tips for managing stress. One of them is looking after your well-being. The well-being of a person can be maintained by resting while feeling overwhelmed, involving in hobbies, spending time with nature, eating a balanced diet, having enough physical exercise, and getting enough sleep (Yu et al., 2018). Secondly, stress can be managed by having a solid support system of friends and family. People also have support groups at work or with people who face the same problems. Talking about daily challenges with others makes a person feel relieved.
Thirdly, people can manage their stress by identifying their triggers. Identifying the triggers will help a person prepare for them and find ways to avoid or manage them. They can also seek advice on how to deal with the triggers before they result in stress. Fourthly, time management helps manage stress by planning for things based on their urgency (Yu et al., 2018). It is less likely for a person to have last-minute pressure when they plan accordingly. Lastly, creating awareness about stress so that people can know the causes, signs, and symptoms and how to manage it will reduce the chances of stress leading to severe mental conditions such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
Conclusion
From research, different people handle different stressful situations differently. Nobody is the same as the other person, so stress experiences likely impact people differently. Children, for example, are said to have less stress because they have fewer things to worry about. Their main worries may be if they have finished their homework, if they have performed well in school or if they will get a particular gift during Christmas (Boogert et al., 2018). As they grow and become teenagers, they worry about being liked by the opposite sex, their dress, or if they will get to go to the university of their dreams. Once they become adults, their stress experiences differ. They face the big world without protection from their parents.
Based on how a person is raised, they are likely to worry and stress about certain things. Men are said to be providers and protectors. They often feel helpless if they cannot offer these things to their families. On the other hand, women have to stress about caring for their children if they get children and families in the first place (Boogert et al., 2018). You will likely face discrimination when you move to a new place due to education or work. Knowing how to deal with discrimination becomes a coping mechanism. Being financially stable and intelligent may worsen the situation compared to someone who does not have either. It is, therefore, clear that stress may be affected by individual differences.
References
Boogert, N. J., Madden, J. R., Morand-Ferron, J., & Thornton, A. (2018). Measuring and understanding individual differences in cognition. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 373(1756), 20170280. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rstb.2017.0280?etoc=Epel, E. S., Crosswell, A. D., Mayer, S. E., Prather, A. A., Slavich, G. M., Puterman, E., & Mendes, W. B. (2018). More than a feeling: A unified view of stress measurement for population science. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology, 49, 146-169. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091302218300219Sangalang, C. C., Becerra, D., Mitchell, F. M., Lechuga-Peña, S., Lopez, K., & Kim, I. (2019). Trauma, post-migration stress, and mental health: A comparative analysis of refugees and immigrants in the United States. Journal of immigrant and minority health, 21(5), 909-919. https://escholarship.org/content/qt51v45549/qt51v45549.pdf
Thielmann, I., Spadaro, G., & Balliet, D. (2020). Personality and prosocial behavior: A theoretical framework and meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 146(1), 30. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-77920-001?doi=1Wang, Z., de Dear, R., Luo, M., Lin, B., He, Y., Ghahramani, A., & Zhu, Y. (2018). Individual difference in thermal comfort: A literature review. Building and Environment, 138, 181-193. https://upgreengrade.ir/admin_panel/assets/images/books/42626217183.pdfYu, B., Funk, M., Hu, J., Wang, Q., & Feijs, L. (2018). Biofeedback for everyday stress management: A systematic review. Frontiers in ICT, 5, 23. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fict.2018.00023/full
How is a Person’s Life Affected by Bipolar Disorder
How is a Person’s Life Affected by Bipolar Disorder?
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How is a Person’s Life Affected by Bipolar Disorder?
Introduction
The serious mental illness known as bipolar disorder generates mood fluctuations that are out of the ordinary highs or lows. Mania and depression are the terms used to describe these highs and lows, respectively. When someone has bipolar disorder, their enthusiasm, thinking, behavior, and sleeping habits also modify. Bipolar changes in mood make it difficult to complete everyday tasks, employment and studies, and form relationships. This paper discusses why I chose this topic as my topic of research. It also gives a broad description of the causes, signs and symptoms, types, treatment options, and how a person’s life is generally affected by being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
In America, bipolar disorder impacts 2.8% of adults. According to the World Health Organization, it affects around 45 million individuals globally and is the sixth most significant cause of disability. Living with bipolar disorder can be pretty challenging. Household, career, connections, economics, and overall well-being can all negatively impact (Carvalho et al., 2020). Twenty times more individuals with bipolar disorder will kill themselves than the overall demographic. Bipolar disorder patients are seven times more likely to skip work than the general population. When a female is 25 years old and diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she runs the danger of wasting nine years of life, 12 years of a healthy life, and 14 years of useful life. Regrettably, having bipolar disorder carries a significant stigma (Carvalho et al., 2020). Patients who experience these feelings may be less likely to seek treatment and make a full recovery because they may feel alone, embarrassed, or prejudiced against. Additionally, it hinders the patient’s family and neighborhood from offering practical support. It is crucial to increase knowledge about bipolar disorder to combat the stigma.
Review of Literature
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
Three primary triggers may lead to bipolar disorder. The main one is the genetic factor (Kato, 2019). This mainly arises when there has been a recent history of the disorder in a family member. It may, however, go unnoticed or misdiagnosed. When people have a previous disorder history, doctors look into the situation to see if the person has the disorder. Research also shows that genetic mutation may go wrong, resulting in the gene. The second factor is biological. According to researchers, the mind’s synapses or hormonal may be out of equilibrium (Kato, 2019). Lastly are the environmental factors. A vulnerable individual may go through their first episode due to stressful experiences, including maltreatment, psychological anguish, a massive loss, or another catastrophic incident.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Episodes of mania and depression are a feature of each form of bipolar illness. The severity and duration of the mood changes distinguish the various kinds of illness. There are times between high or low episodes when signs and symptoms subside, or individuals feel steady, regardless of the type. The three types of bipolar disorder include bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymic disorder. Bipolar I disorder includes persistent mood changes between euphoric high episodes and sad ones. Doctors must, however, rule out delusional disorder and schizophrenia to come up with the correct diagnosis. Mood changes from maniac to depression are a feature of bipolar II illness, but the highs are less severe and are referred to as hypomanic events. The severity of the depression episodes may be on par with that of Bipolar I disorder. The symptoms of bipolar II disorder may differ from person to person. Chronic mood fluctuations, which include highs and lows that are neither as long-lasting, intense, or regular as those seen in bipolar I or II illness, are cyclothymic disorders.
Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
When it comes to bipolar disorder, experiences differ from one individual to the next. The signs and symptoms are purely based on manic and depressive episodes (Takeshima et al., 2020). The manic episode signs and symptoms are characterized by extreme emotions of exhilaration, exuberance, or pleasure; appearing anomalously jittery or interconnected; having too much vitality; sleeplessness or anxiousness; babbling or being unexpectedly friendly and chatty; having racing or cluttered ideas; inattentiveness; low self-esteem; and finally, enhanced anger management issues (Takeshima et al., 2020). The depressive episodes are characterized by feelings of depression, sadness, worry, worthlessness, anxiety, guilt, emptiness, or hopelessness; lack of enthusiasm; extreme tiredness; impaired memory; indecision; poor concentration; poor sleeping habits; alterations in appetite; and, lastly, suicidal thoughts or dying.
Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis
An individual must have experienced signs and symptoms for at least one week, or less if they required admission to the medical institution, to be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder. They might have also experienced a depressive episode existing for at least two weeks (Abdel-Basset et al., 2019). One series of manic and depressive episodes must have taken place for someone to be diagnosed with bipolar II. To help exclude other causes, a medical practitioner may perform a medical assessment and various diagnostic procedures, such as blood and urine testing. Since individuals are more inclined to find care for a depressive mood rather than a happy mood, diagnosing bipolar disorder ought to be challenging.
Since individuals are more into seeking solutions for depressive moods than happy moods, diagnosing bipolar disorder is challenging, especially in differentiating it from depression (Abdel-Basset et al., 2019). A physician might misdiagnose the patient’s condition as schizophrenia if they are experiencing psychosis. Use of alcohol or other substances to treat symptoms, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and ADHD are other bipolar illness problems that may arise. To avoid misdiagnosis, researchers advise medical professionals to check the patient’s history for indications of mania. Some medications can cause mania in vulnerable people (Abdel-Basset et al., 2019). A bipolar illness diagnosis is a permanent one for the patient. Although they may experience prolonged durations of stabilization, they will always have the disorder.
Bipolar Disorder Treatment
Being lifelong and persistent, bipolar disorder does not go entirely by itself. The first step to recovery is a prompt, correct diagnosis, even though it can initially feel burdensome and isolated. Individuals with bipolar disorder can lead healthy, meaningful lives with the help of effective medication, encouragement, and self-care. Treatment for bipolar disorder includes both medication and counseling (Kato, 2019). Psychiatric drugs, anticonvulsants, and lithium are just a few medicines that can help with symptoms like mood changes. It is key to recognize the benefits and limitations of prescription drugs. Before figuring out which drug suits them the best, individuals might need to test a few different ones. Patients are advised never to discontinue taking a drug without obtaining medical advice.
The second-best treatment, psychotherapy, should be used in conjunction with medicines. During psychotherapy, individuals can manage stress, embrace their illness, recognize the warning signs of manic or depressive episodes, and sustain a drug schedule. Additionally, therapy enhances family bonds and dialogue (Kato, 2019). The need for long-term, ongoing treatment cannot be overstated. Even though an individual may feel better in between episodes, a long-term, ongoing medication regimen can reduce the degree and consistency of mood changes.
How to Live with Bipolar Disorder
Along with receiving professional therapy, several healthy habits can help control the symptoms of bipolar disorder. First, the patient needs to maintain a regular schedule that includes going to bed and waking up at the exact times every day. People who lack sleep are more likely to experience manic or depressive episodes. An episode of depression may manifest as more sleep than usual (Jagfield et al., 2021). Avoid coffee, which might interfere with sleep. A balanced diet and constant physical exercises are also of huge benefits. The body will receive the nutrition from a balanced diet, and exercise may lift your spirits. They were taking medications exactly as directed by the doctors. Even when their mood is calm, they should still do this.
Another method of coping with bipolar disorder is to check in with the treating physician. This is advantageous before using any over-the-counter vitamins or medicines a doctor has prescribed (Jagfield et al., 2021). By recording their emotions, triggers can be more easily identified by noting how the patient feels daily, keeping track of the effectiveness of the medication, and identifying transitions in sleeping or eating habits. If the doctor decides that the medicine has to be modified, having this knowledge on paper might be highly beneficial. Even if the patient also sees a psychiatrist, it is crucial to keep the primary doctor informed because they play a crucial role in the lengthy treatment plan for bipolar illness (Jagfield et al., 2021). The patient should not use alcohol or illicit drugs as they could worsen their symptoms. Reducing stress by experimenting with practices like tai chi or yoga and, when practical, working out problems to lighten their life. Finally, it could be helpful to reach out to a support system. Knowing which loved ones and friends are available to support you during a problem or difficult moment. Informing loved ones about the bipolar disease will help them better support you, and you may also ask them for assistance in identifying the precursors to manic or depressive episodes.
Bipolar Disorder Awareness
From previous research, it is evident that there is a stigma around bipolar disorder. People do not understand the signs and symptoms, the diagnosis, the treatment, and living with the disorder (Bos et al., 2020). Since many individuals and their families do not fully describe the disease to their medical professionals, bipolar disorder is frequently misdiagnosed. Since manic symptoms are typically dismissed as reckless, careless, and irresponsible behavior, they frequently only discuss the signs and symptoms of depression. However, if maniacs had been sane at the period, they would not have even taken part in those actions. With the rise in misdiagnoses, people are treated for conditions and illnesses other than a bipolar disorder (Bos et al., 2020). This makes the condition get worse. Eventually, the person has to deal with more expensive treatment costs, wasted years, and lost relationships and connections.
Conclusion
With increased awareness, there will be an earlier diagnosis. When a person is diagnosed early, they will likely manage the disorder better. The doctor, patient and immediate family must discuss the proper treatment plan. With the right support system, the patient will likely recover fast and not fail to adhere to his or her medication. Patients become more aware of themselves with the help of therapy and can work towards managing the disorder. Awareness will help the community speak freely about the disorder and identify the signs and symptoms at an early stage. The affected persons would never feel unwanted or less loved but would instead be supported.
References
Abdel-Basset, M., Mohamed, M., Elhoseny, M., Chiclana, F., & Zaied, A. E. N. H. (2019). Cosine similarity measures of the bipolar neutrosophic set for diagnosis of bipolar disorder diseases. Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, 101, 101735. https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2086/18570/AIIM_2019_273_R2.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=yBos, F. M., Snippe, E., Bruggeman, R., Doornbos, B., Wichers, M., & van der Krieke, L. (2020). Recommendations for the use of long-term experience sampling in bipolar disorder care: a qualitative study of patient and clinician experiences. International journal of bipolar disorders, 8(1), 1-14. https://journalbipolardisorders.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40345-020-00201-5Carvalho, A. F., Firth, J., & Vieta, E. (2020). Bipolar disorder. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(1), 58-66. https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMra1906193Jagfeld, G., Lobban, F., Marshall, P., & Jones, S. H. (2021). Personal recovery in bipolar disorder: Systematic review and “best fit” framework synthesis of qualitative evidence–a POETIC adaptation of CHIME. Journal of Affective Disorders, 292, 375-385. https://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/156478/1/SystematicReviewPRBDJAD_AcceptedManuscript.pdfKato, T. (2019). Current understanding of bipolar disorder: Toward an integration of biological basis and treatment strategies. Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 73(9), 526-540. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/pcn.12852Takeshima, M., Utsumi, T., Aoki, Y., Wang, Z., Suzuki, M., Okajima, I., … & Takaesu, Y. (2020). Efficacy and safety of bright light therapy for manic and depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 74(4), 247-256. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/pcn.12976
Extended Definition and Technical Description of Eating Disorders
Extended Definition and Technical Description of Eating Disorders
Introduction
In the United States, food has a complex relationship with the consumer. A large chunk of American citizens has an unhealthy relationship with citizens. A significant number of American citizens are obese without accounting for those not obese with eating disorders. The impact that accessibility to food, social implications to self-esteem, body image and other factors have on the relationship with food has caused an epidemic in unhealthy relationship and behavior with food. In some cases, these relationships and destructive behaviors can be extreme and long term. Extreme long term unhealthy relationships with food are called eating disorders. Around 29 million Americans struggle with a diagnosed eating disorder, according to the National anorexia nervosa and associated disorders. A problem with this topic is that it does not consider the problem of
Extended Definition
In heterosexual marriages with work-family conflicts, women are generally expected to quit their jobs and become full-time stay-at-home mothers, as “a majority of women identify their family role as a direct care provider while men identify their family role as a financial provider” (Kim, 2020, p. 3). This occurrence typically affects families with married parents that are in the middle and upper class (Lerner, 2006). To understand the topic at hand, it is important to understand a few more terms. Work-family conflicts occur when family responsibilities interfere with work responsibilities (Kim, 2020, p. 1). Stay-at-home parents consist of a parent that “does not work for income but provides childcare to his or her own children” (Lerner, 2006). This concept has existed for a long time but has become more controversial in recent years, sparking the debate regarding which parent should step down from their career. The societal norm within the United States generally “prioritizes men’s careers over women’s careers in dual-earner households” (Cha, 2010, p. 303) which then “[pressures] women to quit their jobs” (Cha, 2010, p. 303). To prevent this occurrence, many employers are working toward providing flexible work schedules, and some even offer childcare (Kim, 2020, p. 1).
Technical Description
Due to factors such as self-image, genetics, biology, behavioral disruptions can occur and sprout behavioral conditions that can be found and characterized by chronic and severe disruptions in eating behavior that are typically associated with thoughts of distress and distressing emotions. Very serious conditions may arise out of these behaviors such as Anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, and other eating and feeding disorders like pica and rumination disorder. ( ) Women are typically the victims of this mental illness statistically, but the aforementioned disorders can still affect men ( ). Researchers are unsure what the certain and foundational cause for an eating disorder is( ).
However, one general cause of a parent needing to step down from their job is that employees are being heavily overworked (Cha, 2010, p. 303). Unfortunately, overworking employees “systematically disadvantages women,” (Cha, 2010, p. 304) as women are expected by society to take “primary responsibility for household labor with minimal spousal support” (Cha, 2010, p. 304). As illustrated in Figure 1, stay-at-home mothers exist at a significantly higher rate than stay-at-home fathers (Livingston, 2018). While working many hours and caring for the household, women are also more “likely to be evaluated poorly and disadvantaged in promotions and wage growth,” (Cha, 2010, p. 309) making it difficult to remain in the labor force with fewer promotions and lower wages, all while being “scrutinized more harshly” (Cha, 2010, p. 309) by management than men. Even if women do choose to continue working, and either the men become stay-at-home parents or outside help is hired, “research suggests that women with children may be penalized more than other workers for not being present at work” (Cha, 2010, p. 309). Additionally, men and women may both have “achievement-oriented qualities,” (Cha, 2010, p. 309) however women with these qualities are “seen as ‘selfish’ and interpersonally hostile,” (Cha, 2010, p. 309) while men are praised for being confident and going after what they want. These qualities cause women to be “less suitable for managerial positions,” (Cha, 2010, p. 309) furthering the gender pay gap and reasons to continue working. So, if women are treated more harshly and evaluated poorly simply for being mothers, why would they continue working paid jobs if their husbands are able to provide financial stability?
In certain individuals, there are behavioral conditions that can be found and characterized by chronic and severe disruptions in eating behavior that are typically associated with thoughts of distress and distressing emotions. Very serious conditions may arise out of these behaviors such as Anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, and other eating and feeding disorders like pica and rumination disorder.
Figure 1
Comparison of Numbers of Stay-at-Home Mothers and Fathers
(Livingston, 2018).
Conclusion
Overall, women and mothers in the workplace are treated unfairly, and their pay and lack of promotions reflect that. The unfortunate truth is that men are statistically more likely to receive promotions, earn higher pay, and receive praise for their accomplishments, so it makes sense that many mothers become stay-at-home parents, rather than fathers (Cha, 2010, p. 309). To have more women in the workplace rising to the top and becoming CEOs and business leaders, how can systematic change occur? How can society adjust to support women, rather than keep their traditional gender roles? Each of these questions is important to consider in moving forward as a productive and healthy society.
References
Kim. (2020). An unforeseen story of alpha-woman: breadwinner women are more likely to quit the job in work-family conflicts. Applied Economics, 52(55), 6009–6021. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2020.1781775 (Links to an external site.)Cha. (2010). Reinforcing separate spheres: The effect of spousal overwork on men’s and women’s employment in dual-earner households. American Sociological Review, 75(2), 303–329. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122410365307 (Links to an external site.)Stay-At-Home Parents Top Five Million. (2006). In K. L. Lerner, B. W. Lerner, & A. W. Lerner (Eds.), Gender Issues and Sexuality: Essential Primary Sources (pp. 331-333). Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX2587400138/OVIC?u=pull21986&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=7b869fc9 (Links to an external site.)Livingston, G. (2018, September 24). About 1 in 5 U.S. moms and dads are stay-at-home parents. Pew Research Center. Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/09/24/stay-at-home-moms-and-dads-account-for-about-one-in-five-u-s-parents/ (Links to an external site.)
Audience Planner
1. Describe your intended audience—who are these readers?
My intended audience for this document is my fellow classmates in English 402. These readers are nonspecialists, but hopefully will find interest in the topic and will be eager to learn more. Another intended audience is future parents. As childcare is expensive and time-consuming, an important discussion to have is how their future children will be cared for, if both parents plan on working, or to determine which parent will step down from their career.
2. Describe your intended audience in terms of the organization they work for and their position or title.
My intended audience is students in English 402 at Washington State University. As these students are nonspecialists, there is no background knowledge required for reading about the topic of stay-at-home parents and the gender inequality associated with quitting to parent full-time. Expecting parents can belong to any organization and have any position or title. An organization called UN Women exists, that focuses on working towards gender equality globally. Though my document focuses on the United States, this organization and its executive board would likely support my efforts in researching my topic and finding a solution.
3. Describe your intended audience in terms of their occupation, profession, or field.
As my intended audience is my fellow classmates, their occupation is being a student. Students make up a wide variety of different fields, which can bring more insight and perspective into this reading. If parents are considering quitting their jobs to become stay-at-home parents, their occupation is whatever professional job that they are currently working in but may soon become unemployed. The executive board of UN Women, which consists of 41 council members, works to establish policies that support gender equality. They are representatives of regions around the globe.
4. Describe your intended audience in terms of their needs for or interest in the information you plan to include in this writing project.
Though students may not currently need the information in this document, the information can influence them and their decisions later in life if they choose to have children. As for expecting parents, their interest in this information directly correlates, as they may be determining which parent will stay at home, if at all. As UN Women works towards gender equality, their interest in the information that I plan to include in this writing project aligns well. Both UN Women and I are looking for answers and solutions to gender equality, which I am looking into in my document.
5. Describe how your intended audience will use the information you include in this writing project.
I hope for my intended audience to use the information included within this document to increase their knowledge on the subject and to be aware of the ways that men versus women are treated in the workplace. If all genders are open-minded to the inequalities being faced, then change can occur. The UN Women organization will use my included information to bring further awareness to the issue and can provide more information on the subject.
6. Describe the technical background of your intended audience–what do they know and not know about your topic? What are their technical limitations in relation to this writing project?
There is minimal technical background required of my intended audience. My intended audience should be relatively familiar with the expenses and requirements of raising children, as they are significant. However, more specific knowledge is not required, as the rest of the topic is clearly explained.