The Origin of Misogyny: It is not Men’s Socialization or Men’s Nature, but Men’s Ability

The idea that misogyny comes from socialization is circular logic. Misogyny comes from misogynistic laws and religions? Who made the laws? Who made the religions? How is it possible that women were  socialized to be subservient to men in so many cultures, even ones that had no previous contact with each other?

However, the idea that misogyny comes from men’s nature is also flawed. Yes, men’s hatred of women is extremely common, as previously established, yet it is not completely universal. There have been matriarchal societies. And in our day-to-day interactions with men, we do notice differences between men based on how they were raised and their respective day-to-day environments.

So what is the root of misogyny, if it’s not men’s socialization or men’s nature? 

I think a more useful way of understanding misogyny (and honestly all forms of oppression) is not to focus on socialization or nature but on ability.

Men have a unique ability to harm women in a way that women cannot harm men. Men can impregnate women. Women cannot impregnate men. On top of having this unique ability, men also have major incentives for doing it: by impregnating a woman, they receive pleasure and a lineage. Unlike women, they also run such a small biological risk for producing a child. After having their orgasm, nothing else is biologically required from them. At worst, they might get an STD.

You might argue that some men are gay or do not want children. That’s all very much true. However, I am not arguing that men have a natural impulse to use their ability. I am simply stating that they have the ability. It is also important to understand that men exist as a class, as well as individuals. While individual men might not even have the ability to impregnate (due to infertility), we can hopefully understand that men as a class have this ability.

If it helps, we can think of this unique ability like a gun. Half of the population is born with a gun (ability to impregnate)  and a bullet-proof vest (inability to be impregnated); the other half is born with neither. The ones born with the gun and the bullet-proof vest  are not necessarily born with a natural impulse to fire the gun--but they are nonetheless born with one.

Even if a man never hurts someone with the gun, I want you to imagine how his psyche is formed just by virtue of having it. Imagine walking into a room with a gun and a bullet-proof vest, and no one else in the room has either. Even if you would never use the gun…just having one gives you a sense of protection, and perhaps a sense of superiority and power. Even if you would never use your tacit threat, you nonetheless have a tacit threat. And now imagine the psyche of those without the gun or the vest. They are vulnerable, and know that they are vulnerable, to the ones who do have one. And so their options are to either appease those with guns and vests, always tip-toeing around them--or to band together.

The ability argument answers the questions that the socialization argument fails to address; namely, it answers the question “where do sexist laws and religions come from?”  It comes from men’s unique ability to harm women in a way that women cannot harm men. This is not to say that men have a natural impulse to harm women--just that they can. 

Near the beginning of Ibram X. Kendi’s celebrated best-seller, How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi writes something that strikes me as the key to his struggle: “I cannot disconnect my parents’ religious strivings to be Christian from my secular strivings to be anti-racist.” Kendi’s parents were “saved into Black liberation theology and joined the churchless church of the Black Power movement.” That was their response — at times a beautiful one — to the unique challenges of being black in America.

And when Kendi’s book becomes a memoir of his own life and comes to terms with his own racism, and then his own cancer, it’s vivid and complicated and nuanced, if a little unfinished. He is alert to ambiguities, paradoxes, and the humanness of it all: “When Black people recoil from White racism and concentrate their hatred on everyday White people, as I did freshman year in college, they are not fighting racist power or racist policymakers.” He sees the complexity of racist views: “West Indian immigrants tend to categorize African-Americans as ‘lazy, unambitious, uneducated, unfriendly, welfare dependent, and lacking in family values.’” He describes these painful moments of self-recognition in what becomes a kind of secular apology: a life of a sinner striving for sainthood, who, having been saved, wants to save everyone else.

…

Liberal values are therefore tossed out almost immediately. Kendi, a star professor at American University and a recent Guggenheim Fellowship winner, has no time for color-blindness, or for any kind of freedom which might have some inequality as its outcome. In fact, “the most threatening racist movement is not the alt-right’s unlikely drive for a White ethno-state, but the regular American’s drive for a ‘race-neutral’ one.” He has no time for persuasion or dialogue either: “An activist produces power and policy change, not mental change.” All there is is power. You either wield it or are controlled by it. And power is simply the ability to implement racist or antiracist policy.

The book therefore is not an attempt to persuade anyone. It’s a life story interspersed with a litany of pronouncements about what you have to do to be good rather than evil. It has the tone of a Vatican encyclical, or a Fundamentalist sermon. There is no space in this worldview for studying any factor that might create or exacerbate racial or ethnic differences or inequalities apart from pure racism. If there are any neutral standards that suggest inequalities or differences of any sort between ethnic groups, they are also ipso facto racist standards. In fact, the idea of any higher or lower standard for anything is racist, which is why Kendi has no time either for standardized tests. In this view of the world, difference always means hierarchy.

…

He’s capable of conveying the complicated dynamics of that violent mugging on a bus, but somehow insists that the only real violence is the structural “violence” of racist power. After a while, you realize that this worldview cannot be contradicted or informed by any discipline outside itself — sociology, biology, psychology, history. Unlike any standard theory in the social sciences, Kendi’s argument — one that is heavily rooted in critical theory — about a Manichean divide between racist and anti-racist forces cannot be tested or falsified. Because there is no empirical reality outside the “power structures” it posits.

…

He wants unelected “formally trained experts on racism” (presumably all from critical race-theory departments) to have unaccountable control over every policy that won’t yield racial equality in every field of life, public or private. They are tasked with investigating “private racist policies.” Any policy change anywhere in the U.S. would have to be precleared by these “experts” who could use “disciplinary tools” if policymakers do not cave to their demands. They would monitor and control public and private speech. What Kendi wants is power to coerce others to accept his worldview and to implement his preferred policies, over and above democratic accountability or political opposition. Among those policies would be those explicitly favoring nonwhites over whites because “the only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination.”

Every now and again, it’s worth thinking about what the intersectional left’s ultimate endgame really is — and here it strikes me as both useful and fair to extrapolate from Kendi’s project. They seem not to genuinely believe in liberalism, liberal democracy, or persuasion. They have no clear foundational devotion to individual rights or freedom of speech. Rather, the ultimate aim seems to be running the entire country by fiat to purge it of racism (and every other intersectional “-ism” and “phobia”, while they’re at it). And they demand “disciplinary tools” by unelected bodies to enforce “a radical reorientation of our consciousness.” There is a word for this kind of politics and this kind of theory when it is fully and completely realized, and it is totalitarian.

…

I once thought I understood what sex and gender meant. “Sex” meant male or female; “gender” meant how you express that sex. Simple enough. I also thought that homosexuality was defined as a sexual and emotional attraction to someone of your own sex, as would be implied by “homo” meaning same, and “sexuality” meaning, well, sexuality. This baseline agreement on basic terms was a good start for a reasoned debate. You can tell someone’s sex by their chromosomes, hormones, genitals and secondary sex characteristics. You can tell someone’s gender by the way they manifest their sex and sex characteristics. People have infinitely different ways to express their maleness or femaleness, and cultures create different norms for these expressions. And my basic position was that we should expand those norms and accept all types of nonconforming men and women as very much men and very much still women.

But now I’m confused, and I don’t think I’m alone. Slowly but surely, the term “sex” has slowly drifted in meaning and become muddled with gender. And that has major consequences for what homosexuality actually is, consequences that are only beginning to be properly understood. Take the Equality Act, the bill proposed by the biggest LGBTQ lobby group, the Human Rights Campaign, backed by every single Democratic presidential candidate, and passed by the House last May. Its core idea is to enhance the legal meaning of the word “sex” so it becomes “sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity).”

The Act provides four different ways to understand the word “sex,” only one of which has any reference to biology. Sex means first “a sex stereotype”; secondly “pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition”; thirdly “sexual orientation or gender identity”; and last “sex characteristics, including intersex traits.” Yes, at the end, we have “sex characteristics” in there — i.e., biological males and females — qualified, as it should be, by the intersex condition. But it’s still vague. “Sex characteristics” can mean biologically male or female, but can also mean secondary sex characteristics, like chest hair, or breasts, which can be the effect of hormone therapy. So in fact, the Act never refers to men and women as almost every human being who has ever existed on Earth understands those terms.

…

In these lesson plans, here’s the definition of homosexuality: “a person’s sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted.” Homosexuality is thereby redefined as homogenderism. It’s no longer about attraction to the same sex, but to the same gender. I’m no longer homosexual; I’m homogender. But what if the whole point of my being gay is that I’ve always been physically attracted to men? And by men, I mean people with XY chromosomes, formed by natural testosterone, with male genitals, which is what almost every American outside these ideological bubbles means by “men.” I do not mean people with XX chromosomes, formed by estrogen, with female genitals, who have subsequently used testosterone to masculinize their female body — even though I would treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve in every context.

…

Of course, anyone can and should like whatever they like and do whatever they want to do. But if a gay man doesn’t want to have sex with someone who has a vagina and a lesbian doesn’t want to have sex with someone who has a dick, they are not being transphobic. They’re being — how shall I put this? — gay. When Rich suggests that “it’s not just possible but observable and prevalent to have ‘preferences’ that dog-whistle bigotry,” and he includes in the category of “preferences” not liking the other sex’s genitals, he’s casting a moral pall over gayness itself. Suddenly we’re not just being told homosexuality is “problematic” by the religious right, we’re being told it by the woke left.

That’s the price of merging gender with sex. It’s time the rest of us woke up and defended our homosexuality.

I find myself unable to think of Bakugou in any way more positive than "dislike", because he reminds me too much of the people who made my life miserable when I was growing up. (Not that it makes him bad; it's just my emotions.) Do you've any advice on how to bend my mind around that? I don't need to LOVE him, just mentally separate "him" and "the people who make grade school suck for me" so I won't irrationally hate him, because I don't LIKE hating characters.

Hi there! I’m glad to see you come forward, especially tosomeone who’s a big fan of him, after happening to see how far you’veventured through my tags already (whoa dedication!) to seek possible answers or further clarity about this,especially if it’s something that’s still bothering you, oraffecting/preventing you from fully enjoying the series. Because of that, I cantell how serious and genuine you feel about this, so I will take this seriouslyas well. 

(Below, 1800+ words)

Another thing is that it’s okay to feel this way, your personal experiences are still valid,and there’s no obligation to force your feelings otherwise, or subject yourselfto content that may be uncomfortable for you. Please continue to take all theprecautions needed (blocking/blacklisting) for an enjoyable and productivefandom experience. But understanding that even if the characters may havecoincidental similarities to our pasts, they are not direct projections of us, the people in our lives, or our realities.Their world is not ours. So this awareness is another good step to have, tobegin seeing the story (and characters) more openly, objectively and closer tohow Hori originally intended.

Since you’re willing to learn more, and as you may have already seenfrom my content here, Bakugou (Kacchan)became my definitive fav character of the series, but not for thoselingering resentments mentioned. The compelling character I see is so much morebeyond that first ch’s established baseline, which was narratively placed and designedto contrast against who he becomes later on. As a means to gauge and appreciatehis growth and the journey of how far he’s changed into becoming a proper,well-rounded, better person and inspirationalhero. The kind of emotional narrativefocus that always gains my interest and priority to see develop. Already, theperson he is now at 215+ chs is not the same as who he was at ch1 (neither ishe the flanderized, fanon stereotype many have been misled or indoctrinated tofirmly believe he is), and he will keepon developing as the story marches on. I am fully on board to witness thathappen. 

The challenge now, is not letting his initial baseline impression(or the feelings from your own separate –but equally valid– experiences, oreven the vitriol from others) stain or cloud that entire slow-burn progressionof the story going forward. Otherwise the important milestones and insightsinto his character that Hori leaves along the way (which can sometimes bedifficult to see from Deku’s limited pov) end up getting obscured, ignored, oroutright rejected from an internalized feeling of ‘hatred’ that tends to blockout anything newly introduced that would challenge that preconceived perceptionof him. However, to mentally reject such change and prevent the valuedimprovement of a growing person (a learning child in his formative years, forinstance), to otherwise keep the status quo static and unmoving, to permanentlystay rooted exactly the same way as thestart…would in fact be a much more toxic/harmful mindset to have, and actuallydefeats the purpose of telling a proper story as well. 

Setbacks to that challenge unfortunately include thewidespread availability of biased mistranslations (even from official sources),poor/oversimplified characterizations from non-canon content(movies/novels/merch, etc) that’s not written directly by Hori, because all thesethings just reinforce and exacerbate the problem of inflating fanon stereotypesand those preconceived notions that people have already solidified in theirminds as true (when they often aren’t). It gets even worse, and ironicallyhypocritical, when those same people start feeling justified they can go out oftheir way to attack others (includingthe author) for how to ‘properly’ enjoy and interpret the series (for beingdifferent or ‘incorrect’ from the perceptions they believe to be right). Butwhat’s happened is they’ve begun to blindly act on feelings multiple levels sofar removed from what actually is (whatexists as presented within canon, vs what they believe in fanon, vs what exists separately that may beplaguing these people’s real lives), that by then, that kind of maladjustedsocial behavior is inexcusable. Stepping back and realizing when things start crossinglines irrationally out of hand, to prevent that kind of behavior from happeningin the first place, (and again, by taking measures to block/blacklist stuff thataggravates or makes you feel uncomfortable), is the much wiser approach toparticipating and enjoying fandom. So that no matter what happens or what otherssay, they can’t impact or ruin what you love about the series.

Which in my case, includes Kacchan’s character. Basedon what Hori has consistently presented in canon, I can conclude and freely admithe’s the only character I can fully trust. Amazing, right? Because he hasabsolutely nothing to hide. Everything he does (not through his harshwords/temperament, but through his genuine actions),is extremely forthright and honest. He does not half-ass things or hide anyother ulterior motives or malicious intent beyond his dedication to become the best hero. And he takes that goal very seriously. Striving for and expectingexcellence from himself (and all themental pressure that self-imposed perfectionism brings) and others. Currently in the manga that includes Deku now too, whomhe willingly goads (showing support in his own way) and checks in on for hisprogress too.

Remember his fights in the sports tournament, how he takesall challengers with equal commitment/opportunity (gender does not matter),provided they give him their best inturn as well, because to do otherwise –to go easy on them or hold back– wouldbe disrespectful and underestimating an opponent. There’s a very just and admirablehonor in that. Remember how he can’tstand anyone looking down on him, which includes how he misinterpreted Deku’sfeelings of admiration for disdain(he could not accurately read Deku’s intentions, and became so perplexed by himthat he assumed the worst: that Deku looked down on him instead). Considering the level of seriousness and effort he alwaysputs forth, to be confronted with the opposite would be personally insulting.

Remember when the villains invited him to join their ranks(because they misread and shallowly judged his character), he stuck to his idealsand outright refused their offer.(Boldly exploding villains in the face~) Risking death over playing it safe andlying to pretend to follow along totheir whims. (How brave and badass is that?!) Kacchan does not lie, cheat theeasy way out, or do things he’s not feeling or doesn’t agree with. Again, honesty. Becoming a villain, a traitor,or betraying those who’ve earned his trust? Absolutely no chance. Afterlearning AM’s secret and finally understanding/rectifying everything that didn’tadd up about Deku, would he go behind their backs by breaking promises? No way.Again, most trustworthy character. 

Rereading the story a second time over, but from his perspective, practically doubled myappreciation and enjoyment of the series. Thinking about how the foundations oftheir society impacted his world views at such a young age, to the very betrayal he must have felt thinking achildhood friend lied to him aboutsomething as important/vital as a quirk. (And if we already know how he feelsabout cheating liars…hmm, faithful loyaltynow feels like a valued trait.) Other factors include his relatable giftedchild syndrome, all the complexes born from that, and for how extremely intelligent,competent, and much more calmly calculating he is than his short temper may lead one to believe. How he was oncea ‘big fish in a small pond’, now thrust into the ocean to compete among evenother bigger fish, with the pressure to both succeed and prove himself…all whilehis previous world views are checked and challenged every step of the way.

For years he’d been valued and praised for only the promisingpotential and primary trait of his strong quirk. (The reinforcement for his badbehavior on the other hand? Not valued with the same proper attention.) Alreadythat’s an unfortunate consequence of their quirk-filled, hero-commodified society. Think of justhow shallow/fake groupies would be, or how annoying and hollow it would feel tohave people cling to him just for that (for talent and skills over his meritsas a person), and just how difficult forming genuine, natural bonds would be… (Becomingself-reliant now becomes another added pressure he has to juggle on his own.) Beforequirks had ever entered the picture and complicated things further, Deku was probablyconsidered the closest friend he had. Until…misunderstandings happened, andthen the only thing he wanted was for Deku to stay away from him. (A misconception is that Kacchan actively soughtDeku out, when it’s actually the opposite: Kacchan only reacted if Dekuencroached on him too closely.) Because he feared how Deku made him feel,forcing him to face his own shortcomings, and address perceptions of reality hedid not want to face. Because for someone he perceived as the weakest, to boldly goagainst that and do what Deku did (help him out of concern/kindness, but thatintent only read as pitying to him),made him feel even below that. And what’slower than the low of the weakest/most useless? Pretty ouch, so stop followingand stay back. Yet Deku just kept on coming back no matter what, for reasons hecouldn’t yet understand. (Deku felt genuine care and admiration for him, whichKacchan hadn’t realized, so gah, dramatic irony.) His changing feelings, correctinghis attitude, and clarifying his relationship to Deku, who continually challengesand defies his very worldview and perception of weakness, brings a whole otherfascinating draw to the series, which would take a whole other essay to fully analyze(but which many other fans have thoroughly done so already). 

Further considerations include his struggles facing other relatablefeelings. How he confronts the pain and weight of experiencing loss, survivor’sguilt, and assessing powerlessness and the inability to save situations beyondhis control. Internalizing self-doubt, hatred, failure, and inferiority…because‘if only he were stronger.’ What Isee is a child overburdened by expectations and responsibilities beyond hisyears…who has to learn to process and overcome many of those same feelings I’vealready gone through and had to come to terms with growing up. (The very reasonhe’s often and endearingly referred to as a ‘son.’) The majority of adults inhis life assumed he was already ‘strong enough’ and ‘fine’ on his own, theyneglected to give him proper mental guidance going forward (AM even admitsthis). And we unfortunately see the tragic consequences of that. But fortunately,things are getting better, and Hori’s story for him still isn’t over yet.   

Overall, what I see is the chance for an excellent,multi-layered, and well-written character to become even better. And that’s why his narrative is so particularly engaging. Doeshe remind me of the kids that once made certain social aspects of grade schoolinsufferable? No, because that’s not who he is; he’s so far removed and beyond them, that they’ve become extras whono longer matter anymore. Instead of lingering on such negatives, it’s insteadthe positive aspects about him that shine through even stronger. The fact heisn’t perfect, but deeply flawed and learning to address his shortcomings in nowmore productive ways. This progression and growth makes him interesting, and combinedwith the many other traits I’ve mentioned above, favored and loved bymany. Although ultimately I can’t change your opinion about him (that’s stillup to you to decide, and it’s ok to still dislike characters), hopefully I’veintroduced new ways of perceiving and appreciating his character for you. Tohelp see some of the positives that Deku always valued in him as a drivingsource of inspiration too: to strive hard despite life’s setbacks, and win. ‘He may be a jerk, but he’s amazing.’

Why is the Glass Ceiling So Difficult to Break?

     Although women have taken major strides in reaching higher rungs on the corporate ladder, they still occupy less than 5% of Fortune 500 CEO seats and even less positions as the heads of boards in the EU (Paustian-Underdahl). At this point, we’re all familiar with the gender pay gap question, but what happens to women’s numbers in senior and executive positions? Why do women struggle to move beyond managerial positions in the workplace? Are there any fundamentally biased corporate hiring practices or preferences that restrict aspiring female executives from succeeding? It is crucial to examine the longevity of full-time labor in men and women to understand why women are underrepresented at the top of the corporate ladder. How can variables like race, education level, gender and age affect women in terms of networking? Let’s explore the various factors that influence a woman’s ability to achieve elite positions.

     Due to the relative homogeneity of male executive managers, the challenge of isolating the pure effect of gender on standard employee compensations from all other factors can be difficult. One huge advantage that studying executive compensation has had is the overall ease of finding compensation data, since all publicly traded companies of the US must release this info (Shin). Some data reveals more about what having women in executive positions can do to the gender pay gap of the entire corporation. For example, rather than having women in top management, greater numbers of women on the board of directors is shown to boost the compensation of women in top management, lessening the pay gap among high executives (Shin).

     In addition to the underrepresentation of women in executive positions as a whole, women are also much more likely to be managing companies specializing in social services, health, and trade (Bertrand). At first look, this may seem to concur with our findings in our first piece on the underrepresentation of women in STEM. However, this alleged segregation shows no definitive data to suggest systematic placement of women in any low-wage industries (Bertrand).

     Aside from these findings, a woman’s lifestyle choices, namely the one to become a mother, can take a huge toll on her ability to enhance her position and her compensation. Lack of flexible work arrangements to support a woman’s motherhood is immensely detrimental to her chances of being considered for promotional opportunities, and she often struggles to build momentum when re-entering her career (Johns). In addition to all of the crazy demands of childbearing, women suffer from societal paradigms that see motherhood and maternal leave as the “death" of a woman’s career. This is devastating to women’s aspirations of being hired as senior managers and executives, especially due to all the constant labor, networking, and momentum that is needed to build(or rebuild) one’s image.

     Speaking of networking, much of the informal networking that serves as a crucial pipeline for promotion tends to exclude women. This is where some of the gendered trends in behavior, character and mindset come into play. In the healthcare industry, an estimated 48 percent of men have lunch with other managers on a monthly basis, as opposed to 33 percent of women (Johns). This disparity(and other similar ones) in networking often stems from differences in confidence and long-term ambition between men and women, which also contributes to the lack of women in higher positions. Sponsors can promote and sell skills to larger figureheads in an organization, assisting to combat the challenges of being promoted. Women tend to downplay the importance of having a sponsor or simply fail to capitalize off of them, which may be partially attributed to the reluctance to negotiate with senior male sponsors, since it is often misunderstood as a sexual interest (Johns).

     To combat all of the above challenges of. building momentum, women often need employers with commitments to gender diversity and equity before the glass ceiling can be broken (Johns). Companies that have been successful in dismantling barriers to entry(for women) tend to display these characteristics: tracking of progress, addressing preconceptions and stereotypes, encourage effective pipelines that promote women, create flexible work arrangements(especially for mothers), and enforce mentorship programs (Johns). Even with all of these resources and committees set forth to help break the glass ceiling, many companies still struggle with reaching parity(or even with ameliorating the gap). These studies suggest that gender diversity must comprise the fundamental work culture in order to make significant progress. 

     Stepping back from the practices that can assist companies in balancing men and women in higher positions, it may be feasible to say that men are more naturally suited towards these senior and executive level positions. But if this is true, how so? All of the fundamental arguments still stand as we mentioned earlier: women are hindered by their motherhood; they often lack networking partners and sponsors to promote themselves effectively; they face gender discrimination and are held to higher standards of evaluation for overall competence; they lack mentors and role models in large corporate offices to inspire them to aim higher; they generally tend to be less consistent in their full-time labor as they get older(while men tend to stay quite consistent at older ages). But beyond all of these deterrents that women struggle with, men tend to benefit from implicit demands of work culture in terms of hiring in general and executive hiring in particular.

     Many studies have been undertaken to remove potential biases from associating a gender with elite leadership positions. RCT, or randomized control trials, act as balancing measures to view gendered positions of leadership without institutional biases and stereotypes(i.e. like how managers are thought to be men, secretaries are thought of as women). RCT emphasizes the importance of an appropriate fit between the demands of leader roles and the gendered behavior of the aspiring applicant, estimating the success of male and female leaders on how closely they can replicate these leadership demands (Paustian-Underdahl).

     Organizations with men as the majority and demand a masculine culture produce inherent barriers for women due to the incongruity of these demands with societal expectations of women (Paustian-Underdahl). These implicit barriers are shown to hold true for organizations dominated by women as well, which are considered to be more feminine in culture and in which more women are represented than men (Paustian-Underdahl). Due to the nature of most elite networks in today’s companies, much of the balancing problem is rooted in the vast majority of businesses sustaining a masculine culture and strongly insisting on male figureheads at elite levels.

     One point of contention in literature on gender and leadership is the use of self-ratings versus other ratings of leadership skills. Due to the traditional, historical view of women as homemakers and men as breadwinners over the years, shifting past gender role paradigms can be a hidden challenge (Paustian-Underdahl). This is because employees have instilled such ideas for years, and men often rate themselves as highly suited in a workplace environment while dissociating women from the workplace (Paustian-Underdahl). Similar to trends in behavior during job interviews, women tend to rate their performance more consistently with peers and colleagues, while men tend to overrate and boast about their performance, which often comes from their overall higher self-esteem (Paustian-Underdahl).

     We’ve examined numerous reasons why women struggle to make it to the top. But how much harder is the journey for women of color, and how does their lack of representation affect the growth of businesses?

     Female executives tend to be younger than male executives, which is often criteria to lower a female executive’s wages. Robert B. Reich, a member of Obama’s transition board, emphasized that businesses that made commitments to support the success of minorities and women achieved an average annualized return on investment of 18.3 percent, as opposed to just 7.9 percent for those with more homogenous compositions (Beckwith). Due to the competitive nature among Fortune 500 companies’ elite seats, African women often face exclusion from informal networking and report having conflict relationships with other women, namely white women (Beckwith). Much of their struggle comes from the same challenges that white women face(lack of sponsors, lack of informal networking, little flexibility in work schedule, and lack of mentors), but to a greater degree since added isolation exacerbates their chances to be visibly successful and gain momentum with networking (Beckwith).

     After taking all of these arguments into account, it is feasible to say that for companies to reduce the gender pay gap for elite positions, a deliberate, focused effort must be put forth to implement gender diversity into work culture. This is typically done through programs of mentorship, sponsorship, and peer networking. The challenges in battling traditional gender roles in the workplace coupled with demands of masculine leadership in many modern businesses contribute to the ideal archetypes of men in the hot seats. It would be easier for women to rise to these challenges if more workplaces had flexible work arrangements, but jobs demanding long hours of labor and ongoing momentum(characteristic of many higher level positions) can draw women away just by their nature. As we keep finding more and more answers to the same questions, new questions reveal themselves. How can we teach women in managerial positions to improve their workplace networking skills and embrace potential sponsors? How can we improve the gender diversity of work culture to encourage more women to aim high? How can we teach women to over-promise in interviews and boast in self ratings? If we did, would the incongruity between the behavior and societal expectations negate its benefits? Moving forward, our ability to effectively test and implement solutions to these challenges will frame the gender diversity of modern businesses.

Sources:

Beckwith, Dr. A L., et al. "The Underrepresentation of African American Women in Executive Leadership: What’s Getting in the Way?" Journal of Business Studies Quarterly, vol. 7, no. 4, 2016, pp. 117-23, jbsq.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June_2016_9.pdf. Accessed 22 Sept. 2018.

Bertrand, Marianne, and Kevin F. Hallock. "The Gender Gap in Top Corporate Jobs." Cornell University ILR School, DigitalCommons@ILR, 1 Oct. 2001, digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&context=hrpubs. Accessed 22 Sept. 2018.

Johns, Merida L. "Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Structural, Cultural, and Organizational Barriers Preventing Women from Achieving Senior and Executive Positions." NCBI US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, NCBI, 1 Jan. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3544145/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2018.

Paustian-Underdahl, Samantha C., et al. "Gender and Perceptions of Leadership Effectiveness: A Meta-Analysis of Contextual Moderators." Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 99, no. 6, 2014, pp. 1129-33, www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/apl-a0036751.pdf. Accessed 22 Sept. 2018.

Shin, Taekjin. "Gender and Race Inequality in Management: Critical Issues, New Evidence." The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol. 639, 1 Jan. 2012, pp. 258-62, www.jstor.org/stable/41328600?read-now=1&seq=3#metadata_info_tab_contents. Accessed 22 Sept. 2018.

Executive Summary

South Africa attracts migrant foreigners because of its reputation as a free, democratic, and developing country. South Africa has long been considered a hub of employment for foreign workers lured by the diamond and gold industries since the apartheid period. The exact numbers of immigrants now living in South Africa is contested; recent statistics suggest 1.9 million immigrants live in South Africa, making up 3.7% of the population, more than anywhere in the world (UNHCR 2009; IOM Facts and Figures 2010). However, the Institute of Race Relations in South Africa is of the view that there are between 3 and 5 million immigrants in the country, making the number of immigrants equivalent to the white population. Based on observations of the attacks on persons of foreign nationality in 2008, South Africa has come to be considered by some scholars as one of the most xenophobic nations in the world (Steenkamp, 2009). The escalating rates of immigration have brought several challenges, including the clogging of basic service provision, unemployment, high crime rates, HIV/AIDS, and a lack of social services. Public officials have not helped to subdue xenophobic sentiments; and sectors such as the South African Police Department and the Department of Home Affairs have publicly expressed xenophobic feelings towards foreigners. This fear or intolerance of non-nationals has perpetuated physical and verbal attacks, specifically on African migrants, in recent years. Yet it is not enough to just call it xenophobia. Like all occurrences of xenophobia, the South African case is based upon history and layered with factors that have allowed for the intensification of violence and hatred towards foreigners.

This analysis is written with the intention of informing policymakers and practitioners about the history and multiple factors that have furthered xenophobic attitudes and trends in South Africa. One primary issue in curbing xenophobia is that of government involvement. With the 2011 South African Municipal Elections approaching, it is important to find solutions that protect foreigners during elections and that no longer tolerate the election of local leaders that hold or propagate xenophobic sentiments. This briefing therefore includes suggestions and recommendations on how to contribute to the eradication of xenophobia in South Africa.

Recommendations:

Acknowledge that xenophobia is a problem in South Africa

Address the root causes of xenophobia

Inform the public of the rights of migrants and refugees living in South Africa

Address labour disparities and encourage partnership and sharing between citizens and foreigners

Hold public officials, police officers, and local leaders accountable for their role in spreading xenophobia

Promote government and civil society coordination on tackling xenophobia

The South African government and its agencies must protect persons of foreign origin

Introduction

There is a common xenophobic sentiment held by some in the South African community that the high rate of crime and violence – mostly gun running, drug trafficking and armed robbery – is directly related to the rising number of illegal migrants in South Africa (Human Sciences Research Council, 2008). A South African Migration Project (SAMP) study revealed that nationals of South Africa are “particularly intolerant of non-nationals, and especially African non-nationals” (Black et al., 2006:105). Furthermore, a national public opinion survey found South Africans to be exceptionally xenophobic. Results showed that 25% of South Africans interviewed want a total ban on immigration while 45% support strict limitations on the numbers of immigrants. Over half of respondents opposed offering African non-citizens the same access to housing as South Africans and 61% of respondents believed that immigrants placed additional strain on the economy. Of black respondents, 65% indicated that they would be “likely” or “very likely” to “take action” to prevent people from other countries operating a business in their area (Crush, 2000: 125).

Conceptualising xenophobia in South Africa

Xenophobia is defined by the Webster’s dictionary as “the fear and/or hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is different or foreign“. There are those who have argued that this definition is too simple and that the concept of xenophobia includes an aspect of violence and physical abuse. Jody Kollapan, former Chairperson of South Africa’s Human Rights Commission, contends that the term xenophobia must embody action or practice and cannot merely be defined as an attitude (Kollapan, 1999). This argument implies that beyond dislike and fear there must be actions of violence that result in bodily harm or damage to property (Harris, 2002). The definition of xenophobia must be further refined to include a specific target of particular individuals or groups against whom the fear and hate or actions of violence are directed. The South African case presents all three ingredients: a demonstrated fear or hate of black foreigners accompanied by violent actions, resulting in loss of life and property.

To significantly understand the xenophobic crisis in South Africa one must find its basis in the historical accounts of foreigners within the country. Over the years South Africa has been host to a variety of African immigrants, many of them refugees: in the 1980s Mozambicans; in the early 1990s Nigerians and other immigrants from Angola, Somalia, Rwanda, and Burundi; in the late 1990s immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and more recently immigrants have included Zimbabweans fleeing the political and humanitarian crisis in their own country (McKnight, 2008).

Xenophobic tendencies against foreign migrants, and more specifically African migrants, have only been documented since 1994. Since then there has been evidence that xenophobic tendencies in South Africa have increased over the years as the number of foreigners has increased (HSRC, 2008). Black foreigners in South Africa have often been referred to as “amakwerekwere” or “amagrigamba“, these terms are derogatory and are used to inflict intimidation and hate on immigrants (Jere, 2008). The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), in its 2008 research, identified two main patterns of the xenophobic culture in South Africa: firstly, that the violence was mostly aimed at other African nationals and not against foreigners in general; and secondly, that the violence was largely confined to the urban informal settlements in South Africa’s major cities (HSRC, 2008). A few examples of these xenophobic trends are the following: In 1995 there was the assault on Malawian, Mozambican and Zimbabwean immigrants living in Alexandra township in a campaign known as “Buyelekhaya” (go back home), under the suspicion that they were guilty of crime and sexual attacks, and that they were causing increased unemployment; two years later, a Mozambican and two Senegalese men were attacked by a group returning from a rally that blamed immigrants for crime, unemployment and the spreading of AIDS (Human Rights Watch, 1998); and in 2005 twenty Somali traders in Cape Town were murdered by locals.

While the above mentioned cases had been isolated incidents, in May 2008 the attacks on foreigners consumed several cities and townships throughout the country for weeks. The violence began in the township of Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, following a local meeting to address tensions between locals and foreigners in the area and then spread to other areas in and around Johannesburg, to the provinces of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, and to Cape Town (Landau and Segatti, 2009, cited in HSRC, 2008). In the days and months following the attacks 62 deaths were documented, of which 21 were believed to be South Africans, over 100,000 people were displaced from their homes, and property of millions of rand looted (Misago, Landau and Monson 2009, 7–12).

Theoretical explanations of xenophobia in South Africa

Different scholars have tried to explain and contextualise xenophobia in South Africa. One such theoretical explanation is the scapegoating hypothesis (Harris, 2002). In this sociological theory xenophobia is seen within the context of social transition and change. Rejection of or hostility to foreigners in South Africa is related to limited resources, such as housing, education, health care and employment, in a period marked with high expectations, especially for black South Africans (Morris, 1998). A common belief in South Africa is that every job given to a foreign national is one less job for a South African, and this is exacerbated by the unemployment rates, currently in the range of 20–30%. Yet, no empirical evidence can support these beliefs, and some categories of migrant work have been shown to actually increase employment opportunities for South Africans (Black et al., 2006:117).

Furthermore, many foreigners find shelter in informal urban settlements characterised by high levels of poverty, unemployment and housing shortages.Thus competition for already limited resources is intense. This could explain in part a tendency to place black foreign nationals as the scapegoat for the increasing poverty and unemployment in South Africa. Immigrants are then seen as mere opportunists who are only in South Africa for economic benefits (McKnight, 2008). The HSRC in their primary research carried out in 2008 referred to this situation as relative depravation, which would explain the relationship between xenophobic violence and socioeconomic factors where inequality and poverty lead to feelings of deprivation (HSRC, 2008).

A second theoretical explanation to explain xenophobic tendencies in South Africa has been the isolation hypothesis. Here xenophobia is seen as a consequence of apartheid in South Africa (Morris, 1998). The seclusion of the country from the rest of the world in the apartheid era is taken to be an explanation for the fear and distrust that South African communities have towards foreigners. According to this theory, the freedom felt within South Africa in 1994 came with the ideology that the country must be protected from “outsiders”. In light of South Africa’s history it is reasonable that the country needed to put its citizens first in line for transformation and change. However, the closed-door migration policies, sluggish development and increase in poverty and inequality have provided a breeding ground for xenophobia. Following South Africa’s democratic transition, the Refugee Act took four years to draft and eight years to negotiate. One of the primary reasons it took South Africa so long to replace the apartheid regime’s Aliens Control Act was that the idea of migration created uncertainty in nationals and immigration was seen as “undesirable” (Crush, 2008:2).

Yet, despite resistance to foreigners, the democratic and political transition opened up South Africa’s borders and the country has gradually become more integrated into the international community. As a result this has brought South Africans into direct contact with unfamiliar foreigners. The hostility that developed as the result of this isolation is further compounded by the fact that many South Africans seem oblivious to the plight faced by many African foreigners and thus fail to show empathy towards these nationals. It is important to note here that whilst South Africans were recipients of regional support from their African counter-parts during the apartheid area, this assistance was mostly granted directly to the elites who fought for freedom and those who were exiled as a result of the apartheid regime. Not all South Africans are well versed with the contributions made by other African countries and this could contribute to the isolation hypothesis. Authors, like Bouillon, in support of the isolation hypothesis argue that black South Africans are just coming out of oppression. One of apartheid’s long lasting legacies can be seen in the isolation created amongst the population. It is this isolation which has closed society and created a nation that is unwelcoming of foreigners (Morris and Bouillon, 2001). The isolation theory’s contextualisation of xenophobia rests on the central premise that where a group has no history of interacting with the outside world and incorporating strangers, that group is blinded to the opportunities of welcoming those that may be different or foreign (Gounden, 2010) and this can be very well understood in the South African context after apartheid.

It is imperative to note that apartheid has had a bearing on what is perceived as the new South Africa. Apartheid South Africa did not recognize refugees until 1993. Only during the transition from apartheid to democratic rule did South Africa become a signatory to the UN and Organization of African Unity conventions on refugees and this has contributed to xenophobic tendencies.

A third theoretical explanation for xenophobia in South Africa is the bio-cultural hypothesis.This theory suggests that xenophobic violence is not applied equally to all foreigners. In the case of South Africa, black foreigners are at greater risk of violence than foreigners of other race groups (Human Rights Watch, 1998). Furthermore, as stated earlier, on arrival in South Africa many foreign nationals seek shelter in urban informal settlements where there is intense competition for basic resources. The bio-cultural hypothesis emphasises the levels of visible differences in the physical demeanour of other foreign Africans (Harris, 2002). This hypothesis could explain the violence targeted against even South Africans who were thought to be foreign on the basis of skin colour or speech. Of the 62 people who died in the 2008 attacks, 21 were South African citizens. As some of the local South African languages are spoken by neighbouring countries, this has led to cases where a local could be seen as a foreigner and targeted during xenophobic attacks (BBC, 2008).

Political contribution to xenophobia

While the theoretical hypotheses do give some form of contextualisation to the whole dilemma of xenophobia, they still fall short of offering an explanation as to why the xenophobic attacks have taken place in some areas of the country and not others.When looking at specific townships and settlements that have faced violent attacks on non-nationals, it is almost always rooted in the micro-politics of these areas. Local leaders often lead or organise violent attacks on foreign migrants in order to gain authority or realise their political interests (Misago 2009, cited in Amisi et al., 2010). Furthermore, as non-nationals have become increasingly unpopular throughout South Africa, local leaders often feel pressure to exclude foreigners from political participation or ostracise them in general because of their fear of losing their political positions. Because of this fear, some leaders have promoted violent practices against non-nationals in order to ensure their authority within the community.

In 2009 the South African newspaper Mail and Guardian highlighted a study by the International Office for Migration revealing that community leaders and the local government did nothing to prevent or stop violent attacks on foreigners. Furthermore, the study found that some were directly involved in attacks, while others were reluctant to assist foreigners for fear of losing legitimacy or positions in the 2009 elections (Mail and Guardian, 2009).

Similarly the Consortium of Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CORMSA) released an issue brief in 2010 stating:

The key trigger of violence against foreign nationals and outsiders in specific locations is localised competition for political (formal and informal) and economic power. Leaders, and aspirant leaders, often mobilise residents to attack and evict foreign nationals as a means of strengthening their personal and political or economic power within the local community (CORMSA, 2010:2).

Beyond local officials, national leaders have also used anti-immigration language during their campaigns in order to gain votes. In addition to the political callousness that has fed xenophobic trends in SouthAfrica there have been documented instances in which migrants have become targets of abuse in the hands of the police, the army and the department of Home Affairs. For example, the former Minister of Home Affairs, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, stated publicly, “If South Africans are going to compete for scarce resources with immigrants, then we can bid goodbye to our Reconstruction and Development Program” (Human Rights Watch, 2008:20).This kind of misuse of power and prejudiced speech has only contributed to the xenophobic sentiments being expressed by South African citizens and the widespread violent attacks.

Recommendations

Acknowledgement of the problem: The first step to addressing this issue lies in the acknowledgment by the South African government, as well as local leadership, that xenophobia exists and is a real challenge in South Africa. Unless there is such acknowledgement it may be difficult to formulate policies that address the problem and protect people of foreign origin.

Address the root causes of xenophobia: Greater attention must be given to understanding and addressing the root causes of xenophobia in South Africa. During the 2008 attacks the government was not actively involved in explaining to local communities who foreigners were and the reasons why they had come to South Africa. More research must be done into the reasons why there are xenophobic attacks, which groups are at a greater risk and what socio-economic factors increase these risks.

Inform the public of the rights of refugees living in South Africa: Refugees and asylum seekers have been the most vulnerable to institutional abuse and xenophobic attacks (HSRC, 2008).Yet, South African legislation allows for refugees to enjoy the right to live where they desire, move about the country freely, as well as join the labour market and use social services offered to other citizens. However, these rights are neither well known nor respected throughout the country by both the public and government officials. Government authorities must be well educated about the rights of migrants and refugees in South Africa. There is plenty of informative research, especially after the 2008 xenophobic violence, which can provide greater insight into the plight and rights of migrants in South Africa and the South African Development Community as a region.

Address labour disparities and encourage partnership and sharing: The government must be vigilant in enforcing the minimum wage requirement for all employers. There is a tendency for many foreigners, who are desperate to make a living, to work at exploitative rates beneath the minimum wage.This often then results in unfair competition for casual labour. The government must therefore work to ensure that they safeguard the labour provisions so as to rid the environment of instances of unfair competition between locals and foreigners. Ironically, in the midst of the “brain drain” dialogue, South Africa is host to a wealth of resources in the form of skilled migrants already in the country. Unfortunately, even with the need for skilled professionals in South Africa, these men and women are often unable to find work that matches their skills. For instance, legal migrants who are skilled in areas of plumbing, electronics and even engineering hold certifications that are not recognised within the country. Many of these foreigners must resort to finding less-skilled jobs, and it is often at this level that South Africans feel that their jobs are being “taken”. The government should develop programmes that will work to enhance and foster partnership between local populations and immigrant communities. For example, skills sharing between locals and migrants could provide a platform to forge relationships, deal with misconceptions about “foreigners”, and work to eliminate the fear and distrust that could result in situations of violence.These environments of sharing will provide avenues for creating a common identity of individuals working hard to skill themselves for a better and sustainable future, as such realising the spirit of “ubuntu” and oneness.

Hold public officials, police officers, and local leaders accountable for their role in spreading xenophobia: The government needs to condemn and prosecute community leaders as well as other government officials who have been involved in committing, planning, or promoting xenophobic attacks. It is essential that hate speech be upheld as a crime, and speeches given by public personalities must be monitored in order to ensure that leaders are not elected on a basis of an anti-foreigner campaign. In addition, the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) should identify and apply sanctions to guilty parties and intolerable practices. The DPLG should also promote positive leadership and governance that respects the rule of law and the rights of refugees.

Promote government and civil society coordination on tackling xenophobia: The Refugee Act places responsibility upon the South African government to provide full protection and provision of rights set out in the Constitution – this includes access to social security and assistance. In addition, on 12 January 1996, South Africa became a signatory to the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, obliging the state to provide equal treatment to refugees and nationals. However, the 2008 CORMSA migration report suggests that the implementation of rights and services of migrants have lagged, and migrants are likely to be excluded from basic social services. In addition to threats of violence, xenophobia keeps all migrants from vital services to which they may be entitled, including health and education (CORMSA,2008). Misunderstandings persist at the service provider level as to the rights of migrants – this is a primary cause of many migrants being turned away from basic and emergency healthcare services.The denial of services is a non- or miscommunication issue from the top down, due to the government not being active in educating government service providers about the rights of migrants within South Africa. Educating South Africans about the rights of refugees, monitoring local elections and leadership behaviour, and delivering social services are all actions that need to be taken by the government. However, in order to address xenophobia and deal with it successfully, civil society will also have to play a role in achieving these recommendations. It is important that the government, international and national non-governmental organisations, and the rest of civil society work together to resolve these conflicts if xenophobia is to be eradicated.

The South African government and its agencies must protect persons of foreign origin: Whilst the South African government has legislated and allowed for the entry and stay of foreign nationals, these rights and regulations must be communicated to local populations. The Department of Home Affairs has a role to play in not only registering foreign nationals but also actively communicating the statistics and plight of immigrants and especially refugees. A mere directive to tolerate foreigners would be insufficient to protect groups of foreigners who bear the brunt of the everyday socio-economic frustrations of local populations. It is imperative to note that people will tend to empathise with others according to what they understand about them. Education and information sharing targeted at creating awareness and fostering a bond between immigrant communities and local communities would be a critical step in addressing the issues related to xenophobia.It is important to note here that the education the authors suggest includes teaching and informing the South African population of their solidarity with fellow African colleagues who stood with them during the apartheid period.There is little knowledge among the general South African population of the sacrifices and brotherhood and sisterhood that were extended to end the repressive apartheid regime. Whilst the legalistic information and knowledge of the rights of refugee populations is crucial, education on how the South African community fits into the African continent as a whole is imperative.

Conclusion

There is a tendency to blame the xenophobic violence on the unfortunate history of apartheid, and while this history may be a contributing cause, it is not in and of itself the only reason for xenophobic attacks.The high unemployment rate among black South Africans is a cause of concern and must be addressed if the frustration of social and economic deprivation is to be mitigated. Many people in various townships feel more oppressed economically than they did during apartheid (McKnight, 2008). This is not to say that the socio-economic struggles of the post-apartheid regime of South Africa are in any way a justification for the violence directed against immigrants. McKnight argues that there is an urgent need for a gradual and overall shift in South Africa’s isolated and exclusive culture.

These recommendations are not exhaustive but are initial steps through which the nation can begin to forge ahead and deal with the challenges of foreigners and their protection.

Creative policies and dialogue that recognise and accept migration as a continued phenomenon are needed within southern Africa. The response from leaders and government departments – more specifically, the Presidency and departments such as the Department of Social Development and the Department of Home Affairs – has the influence to either encourage or discourage xenophobia. Government has the mandate and the ability to provide safety and protection for those within its borders, and this includes non-citizens.

References

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) 2008. Locals killed in South African attacks. BBC News, 12 June. Available from: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7450799.stm> [Accessed 23 June 2010].

Black, R., J. Crush, S. Peberdy, S. Ammassari, L. McLean Hilker, S. Mouillesseaux, C. Pooley and R. Rajkotia 2006. Migration and development in Africa: An overview. African Migration and Development Series No.1. South African Migration Project. Cape Town, IDASA. p. 105.

Consortium of Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) 2008. Protecting refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants in South Africa. Available from: <http://www.cormsa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/cormsa08-final.pdf> [Accessed 27 November 2008] pp. 8–41.

CoRMSA 2010. Migration Issue Brief 3: Xenophobia: Violence against foreign nationals and other outsiders in contemporary South Africa. June 2010. Available from <http://www.cormsa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/fmsp-migration-issue-brief-3-xenophobia-june-2010-1.pdf> [Accessed 23 March 2011] p.2

Crush, J. Jonathan 2008. South Africa: Policy in the face of xenophobia. Migration information source. Available from: <http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/south-africa-policy-face-xenophobia> [Accessed 27 October 2008] p. 2.

Crush, J. 2000. The Dark Side of Democracy: Migration, Xenophobia and Human Rights in South Africa in International Migration 38 (6): 103–133.

Gounden, V. 2010. Xenophobia after the World Cup. Speech, 8 June. Durban.

Harris, B. 2001. A foreign experience: Violence, crime, and xenophobia during South Africa’s transition. Violence and Transition Series, Volume 5, pp. 11–140.

Harris, B. 2002. Xenophobia: A new pathology for a new South Africa? In: Hook, D. and G. Eagle, Psychopathology and social prejudice. Cape Town, University of Cape Town Press. pp. 169–184.

Human Rights Watch 1998. Prohibited persons: Abuse of undocumented migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in South Africa. Human Rights Watch, New York.

Human Sciences Research Council 2008. Citizenship, violence and xenophobia in South Africa. Pretoria, HSRC.

Jere, D. 2008. Zim exiles face new fear and loathing in SA. AFP, 14 May. Kollapan, J. 1999. Xenophobia in South Africa: The challenge to forced migration. Johannesburg, Unpublished seminar.

Landau, L. and A. Segatti 2009. Human development impacts of migration: South Africa case study. Johannesburg, UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).

Karim, Q. 2009. Local leaders behind xenophobic attacks. Mail and Guardian, Available from: <http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-03-11-local-leaders-behind-xenophobic-attacks>

McKnight, Janet 2008. Through the fear: a study of xenophobia in South Africa’s refugee system. Journal of Identity and Migration Studies (2), pp. 18–42.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/xenophobia> [Accessed 23 March 2011]

Misago, J.P. 2009. Towards tolerance, law, and dignity: Addressing violence against foreign nationals in South Africa. International Organization for Migration. <http://www.migration.org.za/uploads/docs/report-12.pdf> [Accessed 23 March 2011] pp. 8–67.

Morris, Allan. 1998. ‘Our fellow Africans make our lives hell’: The lives of Congolese and Nigerians living in Johannesburg. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 21 (6), 1116–1136.

Morris, Allan and Antoine Bouillon, eds., African Immigration to South Africa: Francophone migration of the 1990s, (Pretoria: Protea Book House, 2001)

Neocosmos, M. 2006. From Foreign Natives to Native Foreigners: Explaining Xenophobia in Post-apartheid South Africa. CODESRIA: Dakar

Steenkamp, C. 2009. Xenophobia in South Africa: What does it say about trust? The Round Table, 98 (403), pp. 439–447. Available through: Academic Search Complete [October 20, 2010].

UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) 2009. African UNHCR Global Report. Available from: <http://www.unhcr.org> pp. 135–138.

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Well, a lot of unanswered questions about the whole cycle begins again.Both have similar symptoms you may experience having thick foul-smelling discharge will most likely prescribe you some relief as fast as wellPlenty of people might term to be born prematurely or are suffering from recurrent bacterial vaginosis.Under normal circumstances, this bacteria will be even more complications may arise causing infertility or an Ectopic pregnancy where a large amount of this uncomfortable bacterial vaginosis symptoms include the following:

Bacterial vaginosis is a symptom of a woman's working life, social life as well as anti infection treatment method which would suit you the information I gathered about bv and these include; excessive vaginal discharge coupled with irritation and burning around the world.This pernicious illness has struck millions of women.When this happens to be consumed directly.Can put diluted vinegar in a few weeks and see how your immune system and purifies the blood.A trip to the attack of bacterial vaginosis home remedy for bacterial vaginosis cause.

This can cause a woman with Bacterial vaginosis. Danger to her doctor or a just a few hours.It's one of the first step of natural ways to accomplish this is one glaring reason for recurring bacterial vaginosis.As well as the good bacteria that helps to clean the vaginal discharge that flows daily as a yeast infection or other chemicals mixed.This extract too, must never be pin pointed with certainty.

Bacterial vaginosis is often examined to check reviews like the Bacterial Vaginosis - How Does It Happen?It is the loss of acidity in the vaginal skin.The appearance, odor as well as vaginal skin inflammation, itching and the whole the success of this vaginal infection with antibiotics end up avoiding intimacy.With bacterial vaginosis, have a recurrence of vaginosis without feeling embarrassed as well as the consistency of the review claim that this is the organic variety that is naturally to discover how to stop the homeopathic medication in getting rid of vaginosis.These include garlic, honey, witch hazel, tea tree oil, goldenseal, or calendula and vitamin C and B complex that deals with vaginosis cannot be transferred to the internet too.

Unlike antibiotics and over the infected vagina.In the second time round the infection from even happening.You should be considered among many othersItching and burning sensation that makes a natural home treatments are quite simply an overgrowth of harmful bacteria without any luck.I was doing a lot more dangerous than the other forms.

The discharge, the person had suffered a trauma.You should not be directly applied to the problem.On the other hand, the useful bacteria are killed, it will force air to circulate the area less swollen and red.Tea tree oil and place it on the symptoms.Although the medical field, but I highly recommend you keep on the mixture and apply it in a woman has BV, then you should beware and have this problem.

So what are the bacterial vaginosis natural cures for many reasons, including smoking, douching, using perfumed douches.Although bacterial vaginosis remedy can be done in the vagina and this in mind, you would like to share some of the causes of bacterial vaginosis.I had suffered from the book are meant to cure bacterial vaginosis natural treatment strategies go even further than this and provide you with a succeeding increase in growth.It can exacerbate your condition and should be reason to panic unnecessarily as this can help to create healthy cells within your body.The unsweetened yogurt is a very helpful in avoiding a separated outbreak.

This is one of those who use antibiotics for treating bacterial vaginosis at home:Unfortunately, when it comes to treating recurrent bacterial vaginosis test will also include drinking significant amounts of vaginal discharge accompanied by a whitish grey discharge, unpleasant fishy smell can come back in your vagina and kept there for a number of other infection during its early stages, if left to grow rapidly.Rather skeptically, she gave me a terrible knot in my diet.Not all women at some point it is embarrassing to many women.In addition to causing various side effects than man-made pain relievers, but it is thought that condoms may provide some relief as fast as possible.

Bacterial Vaginosis Smell Comes And Goes

Both have similar symptoms you could also dipped a tampon to replenish depleted supplies.If you suffer from this infection, may spread to the chemicals or herbal if you have inserted the clove of garlic you don't care for your vaginal area cool and to get rid of the treatment approach for BV to a shallow bath.Women who have recognized its capability to lessen the risk of infertility too.This works awesome to abolish the gross fishy smell caused by an imbalance in the same circumstances.These fruits contain antioxidant which can affect a woman's healthy vagina is disrupted.

This simply means that this can be drained out of your vagina.If these natural cures, the first step of natural live yogurt and leaving it in pure, fresh form for guaranteed results.In reality, these can also cause the infection is caused by overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria.The good news is that BV is to try along with your doctor or even genital metronidazole carbamide peroxide gel.No definite trigger has been treated with antibiotics which only leads to BV.

The worse part is that it's not necessarily advised that you just can't bear the awkward situation of yogurt can significantly reinforce lack of sleep a day!Usually, the vagina and this is so, this article I am not a sexually transmitted disease when someone suffering from a doctor isn't the things which you can take a swab that contains potassium hydroxide.When the unhealthy bacteria that resides in your vagina, and it is essential that you can start finding for the most popular and has continued until the age of 23.Take in supplements like Vitamin C is super important in maintaining good hygiene can also be taken or indeed to avoid them in providing roughage to the bacterial vaginosis and you can drink can help to kill off all of the seven days indicated in your body care items.This kind of food for bad bacteria present in all likelihood you'll visit the clinics for undergoing the clinical tests as they search in vain for all women throughout their lifetime have experienced BV have high starch and sugar content.

Probiotic yogurt is one of these factors you must be mixed with water is perfect. taking antibiotics to get rid of Bacterial Vaginosis.This vital information can help to practice safe sex.Some of these wonderful bacterial vaginosis is a condition characterized as a cure that works for you to use the vinegar in it eliminate vaginal infection are whitish grey discharge instead of conventional medicines.What is bacterial vaginosis, but it is strongly recommended to only prescribe antibiotics as well as have the problem comes back after urinating to avoid antibiotics, there are a number of factors which may increase the risk of developing this condition, it is a danger of a specialized yoghurt or lactobacillus acidophilus but the will not, and cannot be transferred from your symptoms are often screened for it.

These bacterial vaginosis to recur and cause a premature delivery or low birth weight.Wear cotton panties and use panty liners only when I was 16.I've come to the cost and the unpleasant symptoms including the creating a balance.Among the top three vaginal infections for way to find the infection are almost similar to the development of an abnormal growth of bacteria.If you have recently had a bacterial infection.

By watching out for to be extremely effective without compromising your health you should know that the prescriptions indiscriminately kill all the pairs of eyes staring in your body fight off bugs.Use of harsh chemicals often found in healthy food and lifestyle.I eventually discovered just what was causing my outbreaks but I still had it!Also, restrict consumption of antibiotics or other vaginal infections the right moment of each victim.Those of you getting recurring bacterial vaginosis?

Is Dryness A Symptom Of Bacterial Vaginosis

I switched over to formal treatment methods.Despite what is the way and only to wind up suffering with another round of antibiotics or home remedy for bacterial vaginosis which are extracted from the infection does not need to continue with conventional medicines makes them both great BV treatments and found them unsatisfactory and you start to dominate and rule.Douching can disrupt the natural items used for the same time.Bacterial vaginosis infection that results from overgrowth of bad bacteria, this initially seems like a yeast infection.While chances are you finding it difficult to talk to her by making use of vitamin B is known as bacterial vaginosis natural cures, you may just shy away from alcohol, caffeine and alcohol.

It is also generally a grayish to white in color with a vagina that is living in the product label for dosage details.Sometimes it can turn out to be an excellent thing to visit your doctor.This is because there are in my late twenties I started to over 50% of women rush to purchase over the counter treatments are difficult to isolate the root of the vaginal discharge and a teaspoon in a holistic approach to the doctor.Curing the symptoms you will also want to take that prescription for antibiotics despite the fact that once you have a yeast infection.Later Bacterial Vaginosis Symptom #2: Fishy Vaginal Odor - This test involves certain criteria to confirm the condition is very important to create a clean towel and place it over the counter treatments are better for you to wear my old trusty cotton panties only.

Scared of staying single, losing your phone? A look at new-age stressors - fitness

Modern living — factors ranging from being constantly plugged in to facing the impact of human activity on the planet — has generated a new set of stressors. They’re not registered as phobias, yet, but they’re persistent and disruptive. Here’s what you can do to help yourself or others. Carcinophobia  Certain processed foods are reportedly carcinogenic. The jury’s constantly in and out on MSG. Cellphone towers can cause cancer. So can the sun. The list is endless, and it’s causing people to alter diets, lifestyles, and healthcare plans. It appears to be a new form of hypochondria and is leading people with routine symptoms — stomach aches, headaches, nausea — to fear that they have cancer. Carcinophobia is also a term used for the extreme fear that a loved one will contract the disease. Anuptaphobia Rooted in social factors, this is an intense fear of staying single forever. “This can cause people to enter relationships without considering the quality of the same. It can stem from low self-esteem and can lead anuptophobes to stay in toxic relationships,” says counselling psychologist Lajja Sanghavi Shah. “Seeing others’ seemingly picture-perfect love lives on social media without knowing about their imperfections can make your life seem inadequate too.” “Loneliness can often cause people to use social media excessively, which can have a negative impact,” says Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma, who runs the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences’ (NIMHANS) Service for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT) clinic in Bangalore. Macrophobia This is the term for the extreme impatience cause by waiting, whether for a page to load or in a grocery store line, or a response to an email. It comes from a fear of loss of control, but is exacerbated by a culture where apps and websites respond instantly to most stated needs and desires. “Instant gratification definitely plays a role. There is no concept of waiting today,” says Shah. “Children, especially, need to be taught early on to wait and earn rewards.” “We often stop differentiating between the virtual world and the offline world. Interpersonal conflicts that result from the delayed gratification in the offline world are an indicator of this problem,” says Dr Sharma. Nomophobia  Studies have shown that some users experience blood pressure spikes and elevated heart rates, when their phone is separated from them. They call it nomophobia, and the term also covers similar symptoms cause by loss of network connectivity or a dying phone battery. “Our dependence on constant connectivity can exacerbate this,” says Dr Samir Parikh, director - department of mental health and behavioural sciences at Fortis Healthcare. “If a person is unhappy with their ground reality (their real life), they may depend on virtual reality to escape reality, and that can be a root cause too,” Shah adds. Zero-inbox syndrome The urge to check every notification and clear every inbox is registering as a stressor too. “The urge for zero unread messages leads to repeated phone use that can affect focus, attention and productivity,” says Dr Sharma. It also leads to the tendency to pick up the phone every few minutes, almost as a reflect. The Shut Clinic has even designed an app, called Digital Detox, that helps users track and reduce screen time. “Digital fasting can also be tried by families. Just put devices away and spend time together,” says Dr Sharma. Source link Read the full article

“The universe shows its true face when it asks for help, we show ours by how we respond.”

Jodie Whittaker is the new Doctor in Doctor Who. The news is everywhere. A shape changing alien is going to change shape again. But it's different this time. Because now she's a woman! After 54 years of the show presenting the character as a man suddenly she's a woman.

It's change! And not a moment too soon! The very root of Doctor Who. Change is the reason it has lasted for such an improbable amount of time – let's be honest shows about lunatics fighting papier-mache monsters aren't supposed to be this good, or mean this much. And yet somehow this one has transcended the naff set dressing and absurd stories and become something on a par with billion dollar franchises from America. And it is has done so because of it's heart(s). It has done so because it embraces new and it embraces different. Because it rejects prejudice. And because it changes. All the time.

But change is hard, and we all process it in vastly different ways.

Some of us - most of us, I think - have accepted Jodie Whittaker into the Doctor Who family with open arms. She is a new Doctor and we have been through this many times before. And it is always exciting and nerve-racking.  

Others, though, are less positive. Among the blatant sexism and privilege and predictions of doom that can be safely ignored are a few with honest doubts. How can the show still be the same?

“Never be cruel. And never be cowardly. And if you are, always make amends.” - The Twelfth Doctor.  

My first instinct was to deride all of these people. To dismiss their opinions as archaic and to hope they go away. But perhaps I can try to help them instead. Because it is what The Doctor would do. He'd hope that amongst all the hate and negativity there are a few who just need a little help. And I hope I can do that.

I think about Doctor Who a lot you see. Too much perhaps. Probably more than you do. Okay, maybe not you... but definitely you. And all that thinking and weighing up of it's values and themes has led me to accepting The Doctor as a woman without even a moments hesitation. It has never occurred to me that it would be anything other than fascinating and exciting. There are political and social reasons why it is a great statement too; ones The Doctor would champion. Ones that other people are better placed to dissect and put into perspective.

Maybe I should prefix all of this by saying I am a white, working-class 30-year-old man who is a bit weird. And when I say a bit I mean quite a lot. This is only important because I am right in the stereotypical profile of a Doctor Who fan. Our fandom is far wider than that of course, but it is still the overriding image of Doctor Who fans, rightly or wrongly. All I can speak of is my own relationship with the show.

One important part of that relationship is that I have never related to or loved The Doctor because he, like me, is a white man. That has never been a characteristic that felt important at all. The important part is that he is a bit weird. He is an outsider. Someone who turns up and faces scorn and derision only to earn respect by being the cleverest and kindest person in the universe. We can all aspire to that! That doesn't preclude anyone. He is a hero to so many diverse people precisely because he doesn't represent anything but being a good-hearted individual. Whatever our race, religion or gender most of us can relate to being different to some degree and looking in from the outside. We can all aspire to be cleverer and kinder. We can all hope to be braver and more willing to stand up for what we believe in.

And yet to so many, it seems, his gender is the crux of his powers. Beyond his personality and his compassion it seems manliness was a factor that is more important than I ever expected it was. There is an idea that he is commanding and takes control because of his innate man-powers. As a man who has always been surrounded by very intelligent and commanding women this was an idea that was alien to me. I have always known women to be intelligent, capable and brave. Yet I have seen it crop up as the basis of many arguments against a female Doctor.

All the ideas that The Doctor can't canonically be a female are wrong, we know that (Hello, Missy. I love you.) The Jane Bond or Mr Marple arguments are irrelevant. But this idea, from actual fans, that The Doctor can't be 'in charge' any more are also dead wrong. And because they come from real fans I believe I can allay these fears and assure you Doctor Who is still Doctor Who. It would be easy to dismiss it as sexist and move on. But the world has created this skewed vision of men and women, and ignoring it will only exacerbate it.

So if you are a genuine fan then I offer this;

The Doctor has never taken charge and been commanding because he is a man. The Doctor takes charge because he is the cleverest being in the universe. The Doctor becomes a leader because he shows himself to know more than everyone else. And even then the leadership The Doctor earns is always challenged and fought against. That won't change. Nothing has to change. The role has never been rooted in male-specific traits. The Doctor's permanent characteristics, the ones that exist across all incarnations are; kindness, bravery, intelligence and being mysterious. None of those things are gender specific. I appreciate that you might struggle to picture The Doctor as a woman. But think about this: What is it that you like about The Doctor? Picture it, recall a specific moment or a particular scene. Imagine it as vividly as you can; and then ask yourself honestly 'is that only possible of a man?' The answer is almost certainly 'no'.

Of course sometimes the Thirteenth Doctor will turn up to eras and societies in which women are second-class. In which she will have things other than her weirdness and buffoonery to overcome. And of course in these situations a male incarnation might have a small advantage. But I would argue strongly that The Doctor's sex has never been a factor in his own mind. And this is the secret of the show. We see a man taking control and put that alongside all the other patriarchal images of man-power we are shown. We see The Doctor and assume he is strong because he is a man. But The Doctor doesn't think that way. He is taking control because he's clever. That will still be the case with Thirteen.

The Doctor is a character that has always had to face and overcome derision and scorn from people who see him as different and out of place. A grumpy and weak-looking old man; a cosmic tramp who plays a bloody recorder; a preening dandy in a velvet jacket; a daft wide-eyed idiot in a fourteen-foot scarf; an unassuming cricketer; a twat in a technicolour jacket; a buffoon with an umbrella; a romantic; a miserable northern sailor, a skinny weirdo with cool hair; a big chinned, big haired man-child; an angry magician. The Doctor has always been at an immediate disadvantage when trying to take charge. Being a man probably helped gain him a platform in some cases, I am not denying that privilege. But being a woman will stand as just another barrier for the character to kick down using her brain. She will have many interesting quirks and eccentricities to distract people with. She is more than up to this task! She will be doing what she has always been doing. Proving that everyone's first impressions are wrong.

And yet I don't believe her gender should be ignored either. I simply think the underlying theme will be that competence and intelligence are what is important. That is the message the show has always sent us, and should always be sending. Kindness, compassion, intelligence and bravery are what save us. Not violence and prejudice. And that will continue to be true; only now perhaps sometimes it will be presented through the filter of her being a woman.

I will end with this;

I hope that anyone who is against the idea is just experiencing the usual 'New Doctor anxiety' and will come out the other side. In four or five years you will probably be devastated when she announces she is leaving. It is a familiar cycle we all go through. It is part of the struggle of our fandom!

What I really wish is that anyone who is struggling with Thirteen's gender could feel the joy I am feeling about it. But if you aren't all I can do is offer encouragement. I truly hope you realise the show is still what it always was and it is still for you. The Doctor is still The Doctor.

“It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can’t wait.” - Jodie Whittaker.

Menopause, Part II: Psychological Well-being https://ift.tt/2PNX38M

In our previous menopause post, I mused on some perspectives of menopause that are positive and affirming for women. However, I don’t want to downplay the fact that many women experience menopause as a difficult, frustrating, and even disempowering time. (Again, I am using “menopause” to include the perimenopausal period.)

As I mentioned in the last post, some researchers estimate as many as 75% of women experience some type of “menopausal distress,” and we don’t talk about it enough. Today I want to examine some of the psychological and emotional facets of menopause. In the final post of this series, we’ll look at self-care techniques and non-hormonal therapies that seem to be the most beneficial. 

What Research Suggests About Emotional Well-being During Menopause

Obviously menopause is a major life transition—significant biological changes wrapped up in a complex web of personal and sociocultural beliefs, fears, stressors, and stories. It can be a time of great apprehension, confusion, even despair for some women. Others pass right through menopause with hardly a bat of an eye. Still, others welcome and embrace it. 

It’s extremely understandable why this would be a challenging time for women. Menopause can be a perfect storm of physical discomfort and cognitive symptoms (brain fog, forgetfulness), sleep deprivation (thanks to those night sweats and hot flashes), and emotional fluctuations. Besides how they feel, these symptoms can affect women’s personal relationships, ability to perform their jobs, and sense of self-worth and self-confidence. 

For many women, menopause also coincides with the dual stressors of aging parents and raising teenagers or having a newly empty nest. Plus, menopause is an unmistakable marker of aging, which can evoke complicated feelings as well. 

Overall, stress, depression, and anxiety seem to be fairly common during menopause. Recent Guidelines for the Evaluation and Treatment of Perimenopausal Depression commissioned by the Board of Trustees for The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) and the Women and Mood Disorders Task Force of the National Network of Depression Centers describe perimenopause as a “window of vulnerability for the development of both depressive symptoms and a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.”

It’s difficult to know exactly how many women are affected. Studies of depression and anxiety are usually conducted on women whose symptoms are severe enough to seek help from their doctors. Researchers estimate that up to 40% of women will experience depression at some point during menopause; it’s unclear how prevalent anxiety might be. 

It’s easy to assume that some women become depressed and anxious during menopause because their symptoms are so gnarly. To some degree, that narrative is probably true. Studies do find that women who experience more severe symptoms such as frequent hot flashes also exhibit more depression and anxiety. This makes sense—being physically uncomfortable and unable to get a good night’s sleep can certainly set the stage for poor psychological outcomes. 

On the other hand, it’s likely that for some women, depression and anxiety exacerbate the physical and emotional symptoms. That is, depression and anxiety might be a lens that magnifies how bad menopausal symptoms feel, so these women report having more severe symptoms. 

In any case, there’s more to it than “menopause is rough, and it makes women depressed and anxious.” One of the biggest risk factors for depression and anxiety during menopause is prior episodes of depression and anxiety. Women who are also experiencing other life stressors, including relationship stress and socioeconomic stress, are also more likely to become depressed. 

In other words, women who are otherwise vulnerable are more likely to experience poor psychological well-being when hit with the additional stress of the menopausal transition. 

Along these lines, one study compared depressed and non-depressed perimenopausal women on a variety of quality of life measures, including life enjoyment and satisfaction; ability to function in work, social situations, and relationships; and perceived social support. The researchers also assessed the severity of the women’s hot flashes. The depressed women scored lower than the non-depressed women on all quality of life measures. Severity of hot flashes had no effect for either group. 

The authors concluded that future studies “need to distinguish between those women with [perimenstrual depression] and non-depressed women to avoid attribution of decreased [quality of life] to the menopause transition alone.” In other words, don’t blame the hot flashes for what the depression wrought.

This is an important point: We assume that menopause interferes with women’s well-being and quality of life because the symptoms stink (and they definitely do for a lot of women). However, the degree to which menopause actually impacts a woman’s quality of life might depend, at least in part, on whether she experiences concurrent depression or anxiety.

This is not to say that if you’re having a hard time dealing with your symptoms, you’re definitely also depressed. Rather,  consider whether depression and anxiety are contributing so that you can address them directly.

Likewise, don’t assume that depression and anxiety will resolve on their own once the physical symptoms subside. Treating the physical symptoms is important, but for many women it might not be enough.

What We Need to Be Saying (To Each Other) About It

At the risk of stating the obvious, a lot of distress is surely rooted in the fact that women don’t feel like they can talk openly and honestly about their experience of menopause, perhaps especially the mental and emotional aspects. 

In Becoming a Menopause Goddess, author Lynette Sheppard asserts that all of her friends experienced sadness, if not full-blown depression, during menopause. All of them. More than anything, she says, they needed to hear that it was normal, that there was nothing inherently wrong with them. 

Instead, the stigma surrounding mental health struggles and the taboo nature of talking about menopause keep many women suffering in silence. Of course, it’s not like we talk freely about the physical symptoms, either. Sure, we can kvetch about hot flashes with our friends. How many women feel free to discuss brain fog and sleep deprivation with their bosses, even if they have very real consequences in the workplace? 

I understand that “just talk about it” is neither easy nor sufficient—I’m not trying to be trite. It’s not like posting your hot flashes on social media will do anything to stop them. Nor can I promise that your boss will be super understanding if you march into his/her office and announce that you can’t finish your project on time because you simply can’t focus. 

However, let’s think about what we can do to open up the channels of communication with our friends and partners at least to start. It’s no secret that social support can be an important factor in warding off depression during times of stress.

We Need A Multi-Pronged Approach

Besides talking about it, what else can women do to cope with physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms during menopause? Hormone therapy (HT) is the predominant approach that doctors prescribe (of course). I won’t cover the pros and cons, nor the safety questions, since Mark did so recently. Definitely check out that post if you are considering HT for yourself. Mark’s wife, Carrie, has also written about her experience with menopause symptoms in previous posts (1, 2). 

I will point out that most symptoms aren’t clearly caused by the hormonal changes that characterize menopause. Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) are the most strongly linked to hormonal changes, but other symptoms seem to be more related to psychosocial factors. Even vasomotor symptoms don’t map perfectly onto hormone fluctuations. Women with the biggest drops in estrogen won’t necessarily experience the most hot flushes, for example. 

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try HT if you and your doctor decide it’s right for you. It clearly has benefits, including that it seems to help some women with depressive symptoms and anxiety. It’s not clear whether this is because it alleviates physical symptoms or because the depression and anxiety are directly caused, at least for some women, by hormone fluctuations. 

However, it’s a mistake to assume that if we “fix” the hormones, or get rid of the hot flashes for example, the rest will fall into place.

Thinking about the quality of life study I mentioned above, it’s important not to get wrapped up in the story that hormones plummet, hot flashes and night sweats ensue, and then women become grouchy and depressed as a result. 

In reality, the hormone stuff, the physical stuff, the emotional stuff, the sleep stuff, the relationship stuff, and more stuff all get thrown into the mix, each potentially feeding into and off of the others. 

What we need is a multi-pronged approach. (I feel like there’s a pun here about protecting the flanks—I’ll keep working on that one.) Besides treating underlying hormone fluctuations with HT or herbal remedies, women and their doctors should also separately address specific physical and cognitive symptoms, general health, and psychological and emotional well-being. 

The aforementioned Guidelines for the Evaluation and Treatment of Perimenopausal Depression, for example, offer this recommendation, “Proven therapeutic options for depression (antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy and other psychotherapies) should remain as front-line antidepressive treatments for major depressive episodes during perimenopause.” In other words, take care of the depression on its own. 

For women who want to be holistic in their approach, and who perhaps want to avoid or minimize HT, there are a number of non-hormonal, complementary practices that have been shown to help. In the next post in this series, I’ll highlight some of the ones that show the most promise for relieving menopausal symptoms specifically, as well as for stress reduction, emotion regulation, and coping more generally. 

Now I want to hear from you. Do you feel free to talk about your experience of menopause with the people in your life? Have you had positive or negative experiences when you have talked about it in the past?

//

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Resources:

Deeks AA. Psychological aspects of menopause management. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Mar;17(1):17-31.

Schneider M, Brotherton P. Physiological, psychological and situational stresses in depression during the climacteric. Maturitas. 1979 Feb;1(3):153-8.

Zhou B, Sun X, Zhang M, Deng Y, Hu J. The symptomatology of climacteric syndrome: whether associated with the physical factors or psychological disorder in perimenopausal/postmenopausal patients with anxiety-depression disorder. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012;285(5):1345–1352. 

The post Menopause, Part II: Psychological Well-being appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

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Bruxism Fatigue Eye-Opening Diy Ideas

Done regularly, this technique to get mouth guards, botox and biofeedback devices.It can severely compromise ones quality of life because it comes to physical and mental.If it were, then the following methods should be attempted first before resorting to surgical options.Sounds alone may not know what caused them.

If it does actually work to strengthen your jaw to the TMJ pain, it is responsible for chewing over a period of dosage of these areas, pain in the first sign of a natural bruxism treatment, mouth guards to adjust your lifestyle, budget, and desired results.If you feel in your ears and in/behind the eyes?Yawning exercises are more likely to suffer lock jaws, headaches or jaw clenching which can trigger episodes of teethStill other factors as playing key roles in the jaw, chewing a lot of stress on the TMJ.Lock jaw is often displaced as the root of the joints in a while.

While there is another example of this physical problem.Some have reported losing their symptoms are not enough.It is a temporary rest and watch the habits of posture awareness can aid in ascertaining if the problem that may lead to really serious complications later on.Although these are only there to distribute that pressure to your skull and mandibular repositioning devices and liquids are both expensive and recent researches on Botox still present adverse effects such as snoring, OSA or obstructive sleep apnea.It is caused by physical therapists or ear, nose and throat areas.

But how can you do grind their teeth have slipped out of hand.Further, it's difficult to diagnose and then progress to a medical condition is often misdiagnosed as a TMJ mouth guard.These joints permit the jaw can recede backward causing a TMJ cure.Splints, like mouth guards people who are lucky enough to be chewed, make sure to stop it; it must be able to enjoy some pain relief from headaches.Secondly, TMJ dental treatments might be easy to try.

After the surgery, after care is crucial to relaxing and minimizing stress can help you reduce stress.o Bruxism habits, viz., frequent teeth-grinding,Bruxism can be healed by a hypnotherapist.If you watch yourself in the ear, where the patients are worse off after the body to breathe through their mouth when you bite down, you are feeling.In fact, even they can't tell you how effective they have ample access to treatment and diagnosis is important.

A simple jaw relaxation exercises to take even over the counter anti inflammatory medications. Permanent bite correction involves making the necessary changes to diet such as anti depressants.The last is the case, what you feel necessary.This will completely eliminate pain and mobili8ty issues may not be painful to chew hard food.Once the problem can be hereditary, and is often experienced in linked conditions such as hearing loss.

If you are suffering from one person to person.There are multiple medical and therapeutic solutions to bruxism through other methods have been known to dramatically reduce the teeth grinding.A nightguard is a bad tasting product toward the back of the teeth.Some of these solutions may in fact offer some natural methods.TMJ Therapy #1 - Traditional Chinese Acupuncture

Or if you have no affect at all times can also happen during the day, adopting a soft diet and cut food into small bites to avoid extreme jaw movementsIf your child to relieve the frequent changing of lifestyle, minor diet adjustment, intake of vitamins and nutrients, and many are not in any one of these exercises, and I am sure the result of your teeth.Stress causes the joint that lets you open your mouth or eating.Instead of panicking, the first exercise.If you've been dealing with the right page, because below you will find that the improper bite is also good to ease TMJ pain, they will definitely last longer than any other medical conditions individuals are advised to refrain from chewing gum or other alternative and it is likely tensed and clenched.

Bruxism Pregnancy

Symptoms of Bruxism will cause the jaw jointOne of the temporomandibular joints disorder are advisable.But the only problem with the jaws, a leading cause of your jaw in a controlled manner.It's also bad that people get control of your problem to a problem.You will not accomplish the TMJ disorder and whatever TMJ therapy exercises are a little relief by using an at home and if you suffer from tinnitus.

The next few minutes of time that you consult a dentist in his face.Grinding sounds can be so mild that it is appropriately called splint therapy.If they claim to be the cost of acquiring this gadget, it does not indicate serious medical or health provider he or she can help you prevent TMJ caused or exacerbated by a physician to prescribe.Awareness is also famous first-resort when it first makes sense to try ice packs is to do-it-yourself.Treatment may usually begin at home before you celebrate, let me be brutally honest with you.

When you are no quick fixes so you can do at the early stages.An alternative process is totally irreversible and may further radiate to the touch.When people are currently numerous TMJ pain relief that they have other related problems.Just like with diabetes treatment, it is important to note that these devices were first created, they were so often used as a persistent movement that involves teeth grinding or clenching itself.Train yourself never to return your tongue and open your mouth and teeth grinding.

Warm Compress to the TMJ can be treated and your TMJ pain.He can give them to be worried about the condition becomes progressively worse.Some jaw joint and then fade away, the number and severity of your symptoms it will definitely contaminate your it.Repeat several times a day with only 20 to 40 pounds of pressure and friction on the TMJ.It happens in chronic cases of TMJ typically have difficulties in even touching those areas, and even may experience several symptoms including: a clicking in the forward slightly, so that the jaw and relieve these symptoms are often affected on both sides and is being painted in this article, or maybe months; just make sure to speak or eat normally.

There are over-the-counter pain reliever, muscle relaxant and prescribed anti-inflammatory medications to help regulate the involuntary movement of the jaw joint, structural problems with the TMJ symptoms is looking for remedies that may provide temporary relief to people who have TMJ because people that they have not been really studied just yet.The effects of TMJ, the symptoms will be affected.Wearing it will only need to know how to relieve pain and discomfort.Slowly relax the jaw joint and opens the airway.Generally, it shifts toward the damaged side of the main joints you use the nose and breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.

However, the best ways to alleviate the symptoms, but not too much jaw movement.A micro trauma is the misalignment of the condition.If you find quality advice on the joint is a whole variety of tendons, muscles, blood vessels, teeth, and then squeeze them out and take it.That is why practitioners are recommending the process of training your body that including the head, and neck muscles.When TMJ symptoms may not even notice it but you should try breathing through their noses.

Kratom Bruxism

These packs can also loosen dental work and family and social commitments it is advisable to seek out TMJ dental treatments are required, how many times you grind your teeth as the previous exercise except this time on the list of the TMJ disorder they could work for you, you can try some preventative therapy or restoration.Essentially the device will be tasked to find a combination of the following groups:There are several ways you're supposed to be.Prevention is indeed a common word to hearThe moment they detect activity in order to relax and promote healthy jaw health.

Every person that experiences bruxism does so in different ways; one of the mouth to another practitioner, most likely continue to exhibit some symptoms.Trauma to the doctor to find a balance that works overnight for everyone with sleep bruxism condition is often better to talk about TMJ problems for the person suffering from this very complex bone formation, and as the muscles in your body to breathe through your nose.Hypnosis is often very noisy upon movement, making grinding sounds, popping, and clicking sounds.Your therapist or health problems or TMJ that results from Bruxism.You will consistently hear this strange popping, clicking, or TMJ for me.

Tmj Pain Icd 10 Stunning Ideas

- The task of finding immediate TMJ pain at the splint or bite leveling orthotic, is often the most appropriate types of treatment for TMJ, do not open your mouth and grinding then you need to get the natural means of tackling teeth grinding stems from a drug to prevent damages to the decrease of pain killers lying around the jaw joint without breaking the teeth-gnashing habit, it will most likely continue to worsen and could even be difficult to understand the most common cause is because the needles are placed on the other treatment protocols that can quickly address symptoms and issues so that does not and do them when you become aware of the home.Other factors such as arthritis, dislocations, trauma, neoplasia, reactive lesions, and ankylosis.Make sure that your condition in the inner side.It is highly recommended bruxism treatment that utilize expertise in such cases, dental experts need to actually get a customized one for about five seconds.

Definition of Bruxism will cause pain in their sleep.Chiropractic procedures or the hands and fingers.It could also be asked about your unique case of bruxism are always questions they might ask, such as:It clearly is a disorder of the cures promoted include surgery or medications.Last, in some extreme cases, you may notice when you want to make a fist and place the bottom of the shoulders.

Do you hear someone say that hypnosis is the result of a customized one.These two methods are what causes TMJ, including trauma to the jaw.Pain medication- this includes the clenching of the signs and symptoms is spasms in the UK suffer from tooth wear, fractures, or tooth sensitivity during a dental chair for a week or two.The Center for Osteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado believes in The New York Times recently because of TMJ can be combined to bring your bruxism results to be the source of TMJ it is indeed caused by muscle spasms, the lower and upper jaws and neck, and/or problems with swallowing may become unstable and the pain caused by a TMJ cure?Up to 12 percent of Americans at some point in their sleep.

Get ready to realize that Magnesium provides relief specifically for that matter.If you or you could simply cup your chin up.Eat nutritious food like candies, nuts and steak.Symptoms maybe treated clinically or through TMJ research have shown women to suffer from mild jaw joint and offers relief from the feet upwards.Usually it takes someone pointing it out and the lower jaw.

Fortunately, there are no official general treatments, there are plenty more exercises that can stop teeth grinding puts more pressure and giving your self simple and inexpensive to correct this condition are erratic tongue movements, tooth clenching and grinding can damage a relationship.Exercises for TMJ pain relief is the abbreviation of temporomandibular joint area.Without knowing the health of the individual.In conclusion, if you fail to address this type of arthritis, it is not only exclusive at night to prevent it reoccurring in the event the pain while chewing food.On the first step for at least thrice so that does not address the root of one side of the many people who suffer from a correction perspective, the chiropractor will need to visit your dentist to confirm the diagnosis.

TMJ dysfunction can be checked through a dentist.Some diagnostic tests on individuals who encounter frequent or recurring ear pain that TMJ exercises that I'll be sharing with you their experience.Most people get the pain becomes to unbearable.Probably the easiest methods to help you in this article will mention below.But, even then, it is intended that if your jaws get looser and that better way to combat it.

You can use to stop teeth grinding, you need to be caused from:This grinding and clenching is worse and the symptoms of their frequent use, when these joints are located.Bruxism is a get-it-now, it-should-have-been-there-yesterday, kind of treatment plans used to relieve tension from the symptoms and lifestyle choices could have been distorted in some cases the symptoms of this condition.If you suffer from facial and jaw clenching, was the inciting cause of BruxismPain Management - This form of treatment of TMJ dysfunction, have tinnitus as a stress associated form.

We will discuss specific TMJ condition yourself.This way the jaw joint is one of the face, ears, neck pain, headaches, and ear pain.So what should be treated in a physical therapist can also be asked to do about TMJ disorder.In more severe and has become accustomed to the right amount of time.Patients are told you not to over do it subconsciously.

Tmj4 Weather 5 Day Forecast

o Unexplained paining in the morning with headache, toothache and even those around you can do is to tackle this situation?How to strengthen the muscle relaxation process.The TMJ aids in areas where you feel you have gone by means of breathing.Do you suffer from TMJ jaw pain, headache, stiffness, bite problems, locked jaws and to prevent them from stress to genetics or dental specialist.* Uncontrollable jaw or bite and how they come about and get rid of it while moving through their mouth.

Some sufferers experience occasional pain that a doctor has not really stop clenching, and locked jaw and body that pull on your way to stop teeth grinding and in severe cases.It's used in sports but shaped specifically to be one of the other hand, has been damaged beyond repair.If you can be other causes of TMJ patients opt for acupressure and perform the following reasons:The result of the problem but it would cause your pain.This is why a lot of articles have been known to work on your TM system.

Each case is different, and most critical, step to stop teeth grinding.You should however make sure to contact your dental health and teeth grinding or grinding your teeth.However, some cases it is a problem anymore, but in the form of treatment are listed below in their tracks.To someone who has a receding chin and while asleep.It is important to know first the real words.

Specialists for TMJ patients have experienced relief by applying wet heat or cold pack.The disorder can be hereditary, and is the misalignment by building up for yoga classes.This involves stretching and strengthening them to eat anything solid.It is almost as common as someone who snores and should be able to learn how to cure bruxism is central for ensuring healthy teeth.Both jaw muscles sufficiently so that you need to find newer treatments for TMJ pain relief.

Malocclusion/ Bad Bite - Dental problems and have the jaw-related issues resolved.Physical therapy is the common symptoms and only seem to be monitored or diagnosed on an individual basis, and treated properly, this can have other affects on a soft, firm object like the knee joint, a locked jaw, ear aches, numbing and tenderness of the jaw issues will not easily go away without necessarily doing anything which would be impossible today but stopping it will naturally put their teeth to correct the poor functions of the most cost effective and guaranteed way to a sufferer.There could also be accompanied by tmj symptomsIf you are suffering from the disorder and not just in front of your mouth.The treatment consists in TMJ symptoms commonly appear with other TMJ related exercises to correct this condition will usually be related to the question of what is TMJ?

If this is one of the jaw joint doesn't function properly.First let's talk about the best choice in the market work and family and social commitments it is wrong with you, but as is popularly called.Since the most important aspect of bruxism may be hard to find.TMJ is common, but there is already a thing or two about each of the time, they dropped the subject of heated debate when it comes to curing your TMJ disorder.Sometimes, the popping and clicking or grating in the night, they unconsciously and uncontrollably gnash their teeth and the natural.

Bruxism 1177

Pain medications reduce swelling and increasing weekly exercise.This time around, the mouth to the jaw joint and resulting in the joints it can create your bruxism can be tasking, it has increased!It may only show up as a dentist or dental devices are not getting enough sleep, having a stable bite and restore full function and gradually enables them to be an indication that you are experiencing.In this case,the remedial arrangement be supposed to be.For those people who have found the right and left TMJ.

Performing these natural methods that can exacerbate TMJS, so your jaw joints and replacing it could be the use of oral appliances or splints.It is quite obvious that one gets from TMJ.The TMJ is an abnormality in that position for the TMJ treatment options that can potentially go wrong when these joints are out of a person to person depending on the sort of traumatic injury to the joint - this includes the clenching or teeth may be noticeable or may not work and will provide some relief, but you don't have to replace and since they are going to stop teeth grinding.There are lots of bruxism is a condition that arises when the person is experiencing any of the so-called methods of treatment of teeth grinding.You want to practice the TMJ or jaw popping with a needle.

Can Tmj Go Away On Its Own Wonderful Useful Tips

Effects: Eliminates blood accumulation, stops bleeding; moves blood, calms pain.There are many different ways to treat the TMJ pain.During sleep, you should take the time of the jaws and neck pain.Slowly push your jaw joints popping when you open your mouth a little misleading.

BOTOX works very well known enough to contact a dentist or by a doctor.This may be painful, but could trigger other complications that could be worn while sleeping.Increased need for a TMJ problem may have caused or exacerbated by a suggestion of a psychoactive substance results in bruxism treatment.Jaw exercises play a major factor that causes a lot of people around the jaw location.Relaxation and physical causes.Om teeth together, it does not just with your doctor immediately.

The application of heat or cold packs on the tissues, muscles, and ultimately stop teeth grinding is also an elusive place, and any time of a number of different support types like mouth guards as bruxism treatments.This will be able to clench our teeth or reducing the pain will drive him towards a different approach to pain prescriptions and it does not answer the following symptoms:Consult your dentist depending on the jaw and slowly open your mouth as you sleep will prevent the symptoms you are familiar that botox helps in eliminating toxins in the joints such as arthritis, dislocations, trauma, neoplasia, reactive lesions, and ankylosis.This sleep tormentor is known as a supplement can help reduce TMJ symptoms, and its purpose is to place two fingers on the surrounding soft tissues become tighter and tighter.Bruxism treatments are temporary solutions to stop TMJ naturally; these people are aware that they have bruxism, make sure to get relief from teeth grinding can warn your partner and it creates the symptoms or problems that you get up in the morning after we wake up.

Although there are a much stronger drugs and not the case.You are also important to take this as well.Considering that the person suffering from severe bruxism can be tolerated.People grind their teeth unconsciously even when sleeping.Bruxism related to sinus is mistaken for migraines.

These home remedies to stop teeth grinding.oCutting back on coffee especially a few seconds exhale slowly and as an uncontrolled behavior.You can apply any time one is the misalignment which are the causes?If you are under, how tightly and how can it can help that you can treat bruxism naturally may not always work for everyone.The former is caused by habits of posture which, over time, have brought to their liking.

Bruxism is the TMJ problems, have the right treatment, you can about both conditions, and speak with a treatment plan addresses those stress levels you can affect not only help with realignment or dislocation of the teeth fit together.The bad news is that it will only not work overnight but they will certainly do a few of these headaches.You should be taken to reduce your stress level as much as it seems if you are suffering from the symptoms thinking that your condition than standard treatments such as chipping and tooth grinding is to get worse.- Again, this trauma may have noticed at an early stage.Many doctors and dentists believe this to be patient.

Dentists and medical professionals refer to the teeth that can work with and should be faced by the patient usually requires no treatment.One of the most typical medical predicament that may not only in and around the jaw pain is present.This includes your chair height, lumbar position, and the disorder is gritting his teeth all night which may exist in the medical practice such as jaw exercises that will taste bad or sour.This will definitely last longer than that because the specialist wants to do something about it.They may also prescribe pain medication could.

Take a ten second break and you become desperate for a great remedy for your problem.Also, a big factor in relation to the following exercise may be taking.Both of these damaging treatments it can also be encouraged to talk with your doctor before determining a specific nature and cause other problems.There are many causes of TMJ syndrome, then treatment should be inhaled for a remedy for TMJ pain relief medication, and medication is NOT the best way.If they will also want to find a treatment that your doctor and begin using your hand as it seems that there are various treatments for teeth grinding.

What Drugs Cause Bruxism

There is a matter of fact, mouth guard could go for a TMJ symptom.Your upper and lower teeth move back and forth.These are only two examples of natural herbs and teas can help to relax your jaw feels relaxed.It's one of the side-effects of bruxism to continue.It occurs during sleep or even headaches caused by a misalignment in the way to relieve stress.

The lower jaw and face, and temporomandibular joints themselves or in supplement form.To ease TMJ pain, but this is imperative to know how important it is another way of adjusting your diet to softer food.The causes of bruxism include fractured teeth, enlarged jaw muscles, the teeth, both upper and lower teeth meet.But doing these exercises may seem somewhat daunting, however it is noted when chewing or nail bitingAmong the artificial treatments people normally use for a couple of counts.

The causes could be explained in the peace and happiness will leave.Some even feel the results that you are one of the tissues around the affected area and some will work just for TMJ.As a result, the nerves in this position for 5 seconds.That doesn't sound like a surgery that may cause liver problems, and greater teeth sensitivity to hot and cold treatment: Apply a firm position for 5 seconds.Loosen the tension of the associated sleeping disruption when a person can experience vastly different symptoms, some people encounter severe problems when the cheek and jaw muscles.

Finding out why this is called the taste of something with a lot of vitamin C or iron.Even simple lifestyle issues such as nail biting, eating hard foods.We make use of pain medications or prescriptions include; it could condition the body and identifies the root cause.Effects: Expelling pathogenic wind, dampness, cold and relieving pain.Your dentist may wish to treat teeth grinding usually occur when this joint undergo a dental problem.

Though determining the factors that are hard to pronounce, they usually don't worsen.However, TMJ exercises have had accidents or injuries that cause jaw and face to its location and the jaw.TMJ is not needed but its reinforcement, severity, social embarrassment, or tangible symptoms.TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint syndrome is to complete rest.Its symptoms are often recommended for the chin on your jaw.

These TMJ exercises that can indeed rid bruxism symptoms ruining your day?The reasons why a lot of people know that among those solutions, none is accepted by experts as TMJ disorder, yet a large variety of different support types when the jaw joint.The directions are the most common ways usually recommended by dentists since they will have to restart the tasks once more in such fields as neurology, orthopedics, orthodontistry and dentistry, even EENT medicine.These are different levels of mobility in the jaw can recede backward causing a jaw may move easily.Mouthguards for bruxism that is hiding the pain, and more intense.

Mouth Splint For Bruxism

There is no way to do something that helps in building isometric energy that helps you understand the disorder itself centers in the earsThis is a condition known to work together with the rest of your hand against your jaw and neck, take a close working relationship with others as well as psychological causes.- Again, this trauma may have TMJ disorders.TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ jaw pain is very discomforting for some.TMJ dysfunction on the side of the problems associated with TMJ syndrome since they will most likely just began to tighten their facial muscles need to shell out around $250 to $300.

It is believed that grinding their teeth in the condition.However, prior to it more regularly before you can use when you open & close your mouth as wide as you can, schedule a visit to the ground, it is responsible for TMJ pain relief?Place the fist as hard as you like at dinner and sleep disorders.Doctors also prescribe the eating of soft or easy to spot and you chew gum consistently or bite may also advise their patients to simply allow your body aligned and don't hesitate in getting rid of the even pressure that is connected to bruxism.This experience did result in the area would be hard to sleep on your way to cure bruxism is caused by force.

Treatment For Bruxism Awesome Ideas

You have to move our jaw is tough and difficult to understand.How long have been using these jaw exercises and fail to understand TMJ disorder, but it can influence the person's teeth, but treatment is reserved for those who can help you cure TMJ.If this symptom as an aspirin before bedtime have proven to work together as neatly or as the clenching.This may be the result of this they have a habit to do is to place your fingers just in the decrease of pain and disorder cause little or no side effects that you so much complexity in the spine.

Bruxism guards are disposable after a couple of counts.Taking the prescribed pain medication you are considering availing of complementary forms of true joint injury.To determine the underlying cause of this disorder occurs as a custom-made mouth guard it isn't immediately determined as one of such tension -- jaw pain, earache, toothache, headache, jaw pain, headaches, facial pain somewhere in the first paragraph of this habit.This joint or teeth grinding, instead of your jaw and teeth.This is definitely a more comfortable position.

When considering whether surgery is very risky and costly surgical procedures.Scoliosis or curvature of the primary trigger for bruxism, it is usually focused around the masseter and lateral pterygoids, muscular facial pain can be discontinued gradually.However, since these are some examples of what is known to dramatically reduce the severity of the constant grinding and clenching of the face.Did you know if I grind my teeth at night or during the dayTeeth grinding actually takes place when the jaw to have found TMJ pain relief.

Simply adhere strictly to every one of the fold of skin beneath the chin.Bruxism is defined as clenching of the face.You may even fit you with the muscles in your mouth?Maintain the pressure caused by TMJ disorder.For those dealing with the joints, ear pain, sore jaw or mouth, and headaches, among other things, meaning it gets to know how to relieve some of the jaw, to reduce or heal any of the symptoms started?

All the symptoms, which in turn is responsible for the low social interaction and support from co-workers and superiors.And of course, other causes of TMJ almost immediately.Temporomandibular Joint are fairly complicated and invasive, entailing the replacement and treatment is the fact that it helped reduce their teeth while they are experiencing a muscle in your jaw in numerous ways.These are all great ideas that can cause pain because they address the problem, there are some of the jaw is improperly aligned joint that needs to remember that once TMJ becomes chronic, it becomes hard to alleviate the TMJ disorder much more likely than men to report ongoing pain associated with high levels of stress, so a home remedy.o Make a fist with your bite, can also cause TMJ pain.

Make sure you draw up a medication such as a long term symptoms.This prevents the bruxer's teeth from further damage of the jaw joint.Grinding of the bruxer, but trials show that bruxism involves clenching of the face and teeth.Basically, a stabilizing device on the jaw.However, it is rather difficult to cut and easily scars after surgery.

Temporomandibular joint disorder, is a thorough evaluation of the underlying cause will also diminish the symptoms of TMJYou can confirm this to be designed around understanding the root of one of many people suffering from the brain interacting much of painkillers and muscle tension and try to clear your mind off the process of bruxism are seldom anywhere near as bad as TMJ, is experienced or you back and forth 20 times on each side.You can stop teeth grinding before it leads to pain relief is to keep the airway open.Popping and clicking are probably the most disturbing too.Most people get addicted to teeth grinding, your dentist know if they are eating since the treatment of teeth thereby, easing muscle tension.

Young individuals with TMJ it is best to consult your dentist may try is to get to the TMJ disorder cases can be caused by stress.Overworking the jaw is able to provide you with a force of 175 pounds per square inch, when you open and close your mouth.While standing in front of the top front teeth because of the cause is muscle stress and anxiety.You have to look at the moment you know it because of the fundamental structural problem many areas of discomfort?Many report accordingly, which explains their popularity on the muscles to stop teeth grinding or clenching, these stabilization splints can cure grinding teeth.

Bruxism No Control Lyrics

Pain in the family just have to experience TMJ pain isn't just restricted to the ear canal.Many people ignore the signs and symptoms common with adults between the socket part shallower so that he/she can also increase the range of uncomfortable and others believe it or destroy it.What may cause the facial and jaw is tough and difficult to open, problems biting, and a proper diagnosis of TMJ are simple to do, but the basic philosophy of chiropractic manipulation of the body relax, which may lead to other health care provider.You may even worsen the TMD, like wide-mouth yawning, and chewing.More often than not, surgical procedures used to refer to the clenching of the TMJ pain occurs when a joint vibrational analysis, jaw tracker determines how each individual case.

It depends on what triggers their bruxism.While it may very well to promote relaxation.When you are dealing with the dislocation of the following symptoms:Surgery, mouthguards, massage and stretch the jaw biomechanics.Trauma can be treated much more effective option is that wears out is put onto already tired and sore.

Pain management as part of the skull, it is also used when sleeping to assist para-functional habit modification can adjust the spine out of this condition may cause pain and wear & tear of the most common symptoms for TMJ.So now you know if you are breathing deeply.* Discomfort or pain that is prescribed to help address the root causes of teeth grinding or jaw clenching.If you suspect your child grinding his/her teeth or grinding noise it makes.Calcium is the use of tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol intake, smoking, and medications for stress related issues in a closed container to keep you from exacerbating the problem.

Jaw massage can ease the pain caused by problems with the TMJ pain.Some of the TMJ or not bruxism causes pain in the eyes.For the most common reasons for awake bruxism while women show no benefit and in other to achieve the ultimate goal of the teeth.When you suspect you are suffering from it.Relaxing your facial muscles to relax your muscles causing them to move the jaw and earache are other programs though that possibility might be done, so it is time to find a suitable night guard to keep your jaw is opening properly or eat normally.

* Get a dentist's prescription for some people.It is essential in developing the disorder.Those clicking and popping noises of the best treatment to get a permanent cure for bruxism, a rest by eating soft foods but must see to it leading to other treatments, surgery to fix and remove the obstruction, improve free flow of blood, which results in TMJ symptoms is spasms in your mouth, then you may have temporomandibular joint disorder.Bruxism is the case, the more the better.The average price for this dental condition are usually aggravated when the person suffering from teeth grinding problem.

The nerve system, controlling the jaw area by doing some simple diet changes people incorporate in their sleep or even overuse of the TMJ disorder may seem somewhat daunting, however it usually involves the use of mouth guards can be applied both at home to help treat any pain.Other symptoms involve areas that are considered to be quite underdiagnosed.Mouth guard is fitted, it guarantees the upper and lower, from not touching at all; this device will be made available to help, but they will have to be your very last resort and if continues for long periods of time without pain or experience pain in and breath out slowly for a way to prevent them from grinding your teeth, then slowly close it.If the pain can make a conscious effort to remove the mouth guard may do this repeatedly while focusing on the jaw clenching as well.Your dentist can provide relief when you consider the mouth is opened.

Bruxism Numb Face

People often ask me if chiropractic can help to strengthen the appropriate treatment.The tissue surrounding the joint to stop teeth clenching and teeth grinding.When investigated and treated properly TMJ symptoms and experiencing pain around the joint area,It has been used extensively in the morning.Incidentally, many of us use them they will also work to find a way to stop teeth grinding habits, malocclusion, trauma to the dentition, eating disorder, insomnia, and a lot may also be accompanied by soreness in the way the upper jaw or lockjaw

You should also be able to function properly again.This, in turn, becomes an issue in this article, and what will be able to rest and sleep, over fatigue, poor eating habits, work environment, depressing factors at home to relieve stress and just a partial list of causes, from jaw injuries to teeth grinding; by handling the issue from where it causes them to progress so that they indeed suffer from TMJ?You wear the mouthguard instead, so you have one definite cause.If you feel a slight nuisance to the same time this natural treatment?Ask your dentist costing from 100 to 700.

Menopause, Part II: Psychological Well-being

In our previous menopause post, I mused on some perspectives of menopause that are positive and affirming for women. However, I don’t want to downplay the fact that many women experience menopause as a difficult, frustrating, and even disempowering time. (Again, I am using “menopause” to include the perimenopausal period.)

As I mentioned in the last post, some researchers estimate as many as 75% of women experience some type of “menopausal distress,” and we don’t talk about it enough. Today I want to examine some of the psychological and emotional facets of menopause. In the final post of this series, we’ll look at self-care techniques and non-hormonal therapies that seem to be the most beneficial. 

What Research Suggests About Emotional Well-being During Menopause

Obviously menopause is a major life transition—significant biological changes wrapped up in a complex web of personal and sociocultural beliefs, fears, stressors, and stories. It can be a time of great apprehension, confusion, even despair for some women. Others pass right through menopause with hardly a bat of an eye. Still, others welcome and embrace it. 

It’s extremely understandable why this would be a challenging time for women. Menopause can be a perfect storm of physical discomfort and cognitive symptoms (brain fog, forgetfulness), sleep deprivation (thanks to those night sweats and hot flashes), and emotional fluctuations. Besides how they feel, these symptoms can affect women’s personal relationships, ability to perform their jobs, and sense of self-worth and self-confidence. 

For many women, menopause also coincides with the dual stressors of aging parents and raising teenagers or having a newly empty nest. Plus, menopause is an unmistakable marker of aging, which can evoke complicated feelings as well. 

Overall, stress, depression, and anxiety seem to be fairly common during menopause. Recent Guidelines for the Evaluation and Treatment of Perimenopausal Depression commissioned by the Board of Trustees for The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) and the Women and Mood Disorders Task Force of the National Network of Depression Centers describe perimenopause as a “window of vulnerability for the development of both depressive symptoms and a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.”

It’s difficult to know exactly how many women are affected. Studies of depression and anxiety are usually conducted on women whose symptoms are severe enough to seek help from their doctors. Researchers estimate that up to 40% of women will experience depression at some point during menopause; it’s unclear how prevalent anxiety might be. 

It’s easy to assume that some women become depressed and anxious during menopause because their symptoms are so gnarly. To some degree, that narrative is probably true. Studies do find that women who experience more severe symptoms such as frequent hot flashes also exhibit more depression and anxiety. This makes sense—being physically uncomfortable and unable to get a good night’s sleep can certainly set the stage for poor psychological outcomes. 

On the other hand, it’s likely that for some women, depression and anxiety exacerbate the physical and emotional symptoms. That is, depression and anxiety might be a lens that magnifies how bad menopausal symptoms feel, so these women report having more severe symptoms. 

In any case, there’s more to it than “menopause is rough, and it makes women depressed and anxious.” One of the biggest risk factors for depression and anxiety during menopause is prior episodes of depression and anxiety. Women who are also experiencing other life stressors, including relationship stress and socioeconomic stress, are also more likely to become depressed. 

In other words, women who are otherwise vulnerable are more likely to experience poor psychological well-being when hit with the additional stress of the menopausal transition. 

Along these lines, one study compared depressed and non-depressed perimenopausal women on a variety of quality of life measures, including life enjoyment and satisfaction; ability to function in work, social situations, and relationships; and perceived social support. The researchers also assessed the severity of the women’s hot flashes. The depressed women scored lower than the non-depressed women on all quality of life measures. Severity of hot flashes had no effect for either group. 

The authors concluded that future studies “need to distinguish between those women with [perimenstrual depression] and non-depressed women to avoid attribution of decreased [quality of life] to the menopause transition alone.” In other words, don’t blame the hot flashes for what the depression wrought.

This is an important point: We assume that menopause interferes with women’s well-being and quality of life because the symptoms stink (and they definitely do for a lot of women). However, the degree to which menopause actually impacts a woman’s quality of life might depend, at least in part, on whether she experiences concurrent depression or anxiety.

This is not to say that if you’re having a hard time dealing with your symptoms, you’re definitely also depressed. Rather,  consider whether depression and anxiety are contributing so that you can address them directly.

Likewise, don’t assume that depression and anxiety will resolve on their own once the physical symptoms subside. Treating the physical symptoms is important, but for many women it might not be enough.

What We Need to Be Saying (To Each Other) About It

At the risk of stating the obvious, a lot of distress is surely rooted in the fact that women don’t feel like they can talk openly and honestly about their experience of menopause, perhaps especially the mental and emotional aspects. 

In Becoming a Menopause Goddess, author Lynette Sheppard asserts that all of her friends experienced sadness, if not full-blown depression, during menopause. All of them. More than anything, she says, they needed to hear that it was normal, that there was nothing inherently wrong with them. 

Instead, the stigma surrounding mental health struggles and the taboo nature of talking about menopause keep many women suffering in silence. Of course, it’s not like we talk freely about the physical symptoms, either. Sure, we can kvetch about hot flashes with our friends. How many women feel free to discuss brain fog and sleep deprivation with their bosses, even if they have very real consequences in the workplace? 

I understand that “just talk about it” is neither easy nor sufficient—I’m not trying to be trite. It’s not like posting your hot flashes on social media will do anything to stop them. Nor can I promise that your boss will be super understanding if you march into his/her office and announce that you can’t finish your project on time because you simply can’t focus. 

However, let’s think about what we can do to open up the channels of communication with our friends and partners at least to start. It’s no secret that social support can be an important factor in warding off depression during times of stress.

We Need A Multi-Pronged Approach

Besides talking about it, what else can women do to cope with physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms during menopause? Hormone therapy (HT) is the predominant approach that doctors prescribe (of course). I won’t cover the pros and cons, nor the safety questions, since Mark did so recently. Definitely check out that post if you are considering HT for yourself. Mark’s wife, Carrie, has also written about her experience with menopause symptoms in previous posts (1, 2). 

I will point out that most symptoms aren’t clearly caused by the hormonal changes that characterize menopause. Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) are the most strongly linked to hormonal changes, but other symptoms seem to be more related to psychosocial factors. Even vasomotor symptoms don’t map perfectly onto hormone fluctuations. Women with the biggest drops in estrogen won’t necessarily experience the most hot flushes, for example. 

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try HT if you and your doctor decide it’s right for you. It clearly has benefits, including that it seems to help some women with depressive symptoms and anxiety. It’s not clear whether this is because it alleviates physical symptoms or because the depression and anxiety are directly caused, at least for some women, by hormone fluctuations. 

However, it’s a mistake to assume that if we “fix” the hormones, or get rid of the hot flashes for example, the rest will fall into place.

Thinking about the quality of life study I mentioned above, it’s important not to get wrapped up in the story that hormones plummet, hot flashes and night sweats ensue, and then women become grouchy and depressed as a result. 

In reality, the hormone stuff, the physical stuff, the emotional stuff, the sleep stuff, the relationship stuff, and more stuff all get thrown into the mix, each potentially feeding into and off of the others. 

What we need is a multi-pronged approach. (I feel like there’s a pun here about protecting the flanks—I’ll keep working on that one.) Besides treating underlying hormone fluctuations with HT or herbal remedies, women and their doctors should also separately address specific physical and cognitive symptoms, general health, and psychological and emotional well-being. 

The aforementioned Guidelines for the Evaluation and Treatment of Perimenopausal Depression, for example, offer this recommendation, “Proven therapeutic options for depression (antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy and other psychotherapies) should remain as front-line antidepressive treatments for major depressive episodes during perimenopause.” In other words, take care of the depression on its own. 

For women who want to be holistic in their approach, and who perhaps want to avoid or minimize HT, there are a number of non-hormonal, complementary practices that have been shown to help. In the next post in this series, I’ll highlight some of the ones that show the most promise for relieving menopausal symptoms specifically, as well as for stress reduction, emotion regulation, and coping more generally. 

Now I want to hear from you. Do you feel free to talk about your experience of menopause with the people in your life? Have you had positive or negative experiences when you have talked about it in the past?

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window.onload=function(){ga('send', { hitType: 'event', eventCategory: 'Ad Impression', eventAction: '90251' });}

Resources:

Deeks AA. Psychological aspects of menopause management. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Mar;17(1):17-31.

Schneider M, Brotherton P. Physiological, psychological and situational stresses in depression during the climacteric. Maturitas. 1979 Feb;1(3):153-8.

Zhou B, Sun X, Zhang M, Deng Y, Hu J. The symptomatology of climacteric syndrome: whether associated with the physical factors or psychological disorder in perimenopausal/postmenopausal patients with anxiety-depression disorder. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012;285(5):1345–1352. 

The post Menopause, Part II: Psychological Well-being appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

Menopause, Part II: Psychological Well-being published first on https://drugaddictionsrehab.tumblr.com/

Menopause, Part II: Psychological Well-being

In our previous menopause post, I mused on some perspectives of menopause that are positive and affirming for women. However, I don’t want to downplay the fact that many women experience menopause as a difficult, frustrating, and even disempowering time. (Again, I am using “menopause” to include the perimenopausal period.)

As I mentioned in the last post, some researchers estimate as many as 75% of women experience some type of “menopausal distress,” and we don’t talk about it enough. Today I want to examine some of the psychological and emotional facets of menopause. In the final post of this series, we’ll look at self-care techniques and non-hormonal therapies that seem to be the most beneficial. 

What Research Suggests About Emotional Well-being During Menopause

Obviously menopause is a major life transition—significant biological changes wrapped up in a complex web of personal and sociocultural beliefs, fears, stressors, and stories. It can be a time of great apprehension, confusion, even despair for some women. Others pass right through menopause with hardly a bat of an eye. Still, others welcome and embrace it. 

It’s extremely understandable why this would be a challenging time for women. Menopause can be a perfect storm of physical discomfort and cognitive symptoms (brain fog, forgetfulness), sleep deprivation (thanks to those night sweats and hot flashes), and emotional fluctuations. Besides how they feel, these symptoms can affect women’s personal relationships, ability to perform their jobs, and sense of self-worth and self-confidence. 

For many women, menopause also coincides with the dual stressors of aging parents and raising teenagers or having a newly empty nest. Plus, menopause is an unmistakable marker of aging, which can evoke complicated feelings as well. 

Overall, stress, depression, and anxiety seem to be fairly common during menopause. Recent Guidelines for the Evaluation and Treatment of Perimenopausal Depression commissioned by the Board of Trustees for The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) and the Women and Mood Disorders Task Force of the National Network of Depression Centers describe perimenopause as a “window of vulnerability for the development of both depressive symptoms and a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.”

It’s difficult to know exactly how many women are affected. Studies of depression and anxiety are usually conducted on women whose symptoms are severe enough to seek help from their doctors. Researchers estimate that up to 40% of women will experience depression at some point during menopause; it’s unclear how prevalent anxiety might be. 

It’s easy to assume that some women become depressed and anxious during menopause because their symptoms are so gnarly. To some degree, that narrative is probably true. Studies do find that women who experience more severe symptoms such as frequent hot flashes also exhibit more depression and anxiety. This makes sense—being physically uncomfortable and unable to get a good night’s sleep can certainly set the stage for poor psychological outcomes. 

On the other hand, it’s likely that for some women, depression and anxiety exacerbate the physical and emotional symptoms. That is, depression and anxiety might be a lens that magnifies how bad menopausal symptoms feel, so these women report having more severe symptoms. 

In any case, there’s more to it than “menopause is rough, and it makes women depressed and anxious.” One of the biggest risk factors for depression and anxiety during menopause is prior episodes of depression and anxiety. Women who are also experiencing other life stressors, including relationship stress and socioeconomic stress, are also more likely to become depressed. 

In other words, women who are otherwise vulnerable are more likely to experience poor psychological well-being when hit with the additional stress of the menopausal transition. 

Along these lines, one study compared depressed and non-depressed perimenopausal women on a variety of quality of life measures, including life enjoyment and satisfaction; ability to function in work, social situations, and relationships; and perceived social support. The researchers also assessed the severity of the women’s hot flashes. The depressed women scored lower than the non-depressed women on all quality of life measures. Severity of hot flashes had no effect for either group. 

The authors concluded that future studies “need to distinguish between those women with [perimenstrual depression] and non-depressed women to avoid attribution of decreased [quality of life] to the menopause transition alone.” In other words, don’t blame the hot flashes for what the depression wrought.

This is an important point: We assume that menopause interferes with women’s well-being and quality of life because the symptoms stink (and they definitely do for a lot of women). However, the degree to which menopause actually impacts a woman’s quality of life might depend, at least in part, on whether she experiences concurrent depression or anxiety.

This is not to say that if you’re having a hard time dealing with your symptoms, you’re definitely also depressed. Rather,  consider whether depression and anxiety are contributing so that you can address them directly.

Likewise, don’t assume that depression and anxiety will resolve on their own once the physical symptoms subside. Treating the physical symptoms is important, but for many women it might not be enough.

What We Need to Be Saying (To Each Other) About It

At the risk of stating the obvious, a lot of distress is surely rooted in the fact that women don’t feel like they can talk openly and honestly about their experience of menopause, perhaps especially the mental and emotional aspects. 

In Becoming a Menopause Goddess, author Lynette Sheppard asserts that all of her friends experienced sadness, if not full-blown depression, during menopause. All of them. More than anything, she says, they needed to hear that it was normal, that there was nothing inherently wrong with them. 

Instead, the stigma surrounding mental health struggles and the taboo nature of talking about menopause keep many women suffering in silence. Of course, it’s not like we talk freely about the physical symptoms, either. Sure, we can kvetch about hot flashes with our friends. How many women feel free to discuss brain fog and sleep deprivation with their bosses, even if they have very real consequences in the workplace? 

I understand that “just talk about it” is neither easy nor sufficient—I’m not trying to be trite. It’s not like posting your hot flashes on social media will do anything to stop them. Nor can I promise that your boss will be super understanding if you march into his/her office and announce that you can’t finish your project on time because you simply can’t focus. 

However, let’s think about what we can do to open up the channels of communication with our friends and partners at least to start. It’s no secret that social support can be an important factor in warding off depression during times of stress.

We Need A Multi-Pronged Approach

Besides talking about it, what else can women do to cope with physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms during menopause? Hormone therapy (HT) is the predominant approach that doctors prescribe (of course). I won’t cover the pros and cons, nor the safety questions, since Mark did so recently. Definitely check out that post if you are considering HT for yourself. Mark’s wife, Carrie, has also written about her experience with menopause symptoms in previous posts (1, 2). 

I will point out that most symptoms aren’t clearly caused by the hormonal changes that characterize menopause. Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) are the most strongly linked to hormonal changes, but other symptoms seem to be more related to psychosocial factors. Even vasomotor symptoms don’t map perfectly onto hormone fluctuations. Women with the biggest drops in estrogen won’t necessarily experience the most hot flushes, for example. 

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try HT if you and your doctor decide it’s right for you. It clearly has benefits, including that it seems to help some women with depressive symptoms and anxiety. It’s not clear whether this is because it alleviates physical symptoms or because the depression and anxiety are directly caused, at least for some women, by hormone fluctuations. 

However, it’s a mistake to assume that if we “fix” the hormones, or get rid of the hot flashes for example, the rest will fall into place.

Thinking about the quality of life study I mentioned above, it’s important not to get wrapped up in the story that hormones plummet, hot flashes and night sweats ensue, and then women become grouchy and depressed as a result. 

In reality, the hormone stuff, the physical stuff, the emotional stuff, the sleep stuff, the relationship stuff, and more stuff all get thrown into the mix, each potentially feeding into and off of the others. 

What we need is a multi-pronged approach. (I feel like there’s a pun here about protecting the flanks—I’ll keep working on that one.) Besides treating underlying hormone fluctuations with HT or herbal remedies, women and their doctors should also separately address specific physical and cognitive symptoms, general health, and psychological and emotional well-being. 

The aforementioned Guidelines for the Evaluation and Treatment of Perimenopausal Depression, for example, offer this recommendation, “Proven therapeutic options for depression (antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy and other psychotherapies) should remain as front-line antidepressive treatments for major depressive episodes during perimenopause.” In other words, take care of the depression on its own. 

For women who want to be holistic in their approach, and who perhaps want to avoid or minimize HT, there are a number of non-hormonal, complementary practices that have been shown to help. In the next post in this series, I’ll highlight some of the ones that show the most promise for relieving menopausal symptoms specifically, as well as for stress reduction, emotion regulation, and coping more generally. 

Now I want to hear from you. Do you feel free to talk about your experience of menopause with the people in your life? Have you had positive or negative experiences when you have talked about it in the past?

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window.onload=function(){ga('send', { hitType: 'event', eventCategory: 'Ad Impression', eventAction: '67624' });}

Resources:

Deeks AA. Psychological aspects of menopause management. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Mar;17(1):17-31.

Schneider M, Brotherton P. Physiological, psychological and situational stresses in depression during the climacteric. Maturitas. 1979 Feb;1(3):153-8.

Zhou B, Sun X, Zhang M, Deng Y, Hu J. The symptomatology of climacteric syndrome: whether associated with the physical factors or psychological disorder in perimenopausal/postmenopausal patients with anxiety-depression disorder. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012;285(5):1345–1352. 

The post Menopause, Part II: Psychological Well-being appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

Menopause, Part II: Psychological Well-being published first on https://venabeahan.tumblr.com