The Paradox of declining female happiness
Maria Ratri
by Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers of the Wharton School, titled
The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness.
The study found women’s levels of happiness and subjective well-being
have been steadily declining since 1972 – both in absolute terms and
relative to men. On various aspects of life, women have made
tremendous progress since 1972. Social movement on female liberation
offers more opportunity to women. The gender wage gap has been
decreasing and except for the least educated of women, women’s real
wages have risen. More women are attaining higher levels of education
and have now surpassed men. Birth control allows for greater career
freedom and household appliances have reduced the amount of time women
spend on household chores. Despite all of this, statistics show that
women in the US and other parts of the industrialized world are less
happy today than they were in 1972.
Since 1972, the United States General Social Survey (GSS) has asked at
least 1500 women and men of all ages, education levels, income levels
and marital status: “Taken all together, how would you say things are
these days, would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or
not too happy?” Respondents were also asked about their satisfaction
with other aspects of their life including marriage, their health,
their financial situation, and their job.
Interestingly, this drop is found in women even controlling for
income, children, employment status, marital status, health, age and
race – with one exception: African American women are slightly happier
than they were in 1972.
Yet, Stevenson and Wolfers do not research the reasons why there has
been a decline in female happiness but they do offer a few discussion
points. On the satisfaction of women in certain domains in their
lives, the researchers concede that one limitation of the GSS data is
that there is no way of assessing whether the importance of specific
domains to overall happiness has changed over time. The Monitoring
the Future Survey does offer some possible insight into this: Young
women surveyed are increasingly attaching greater importance to 13 of
the 14 life domains examined including ’success at work’, ‘being a
leader in their community’ and ‘contributing to society’. This
increase in the importance of several domains in life may suggest that
women’s satisfaction with life may have become more complex as they
attempt to succeed in so many realms.
Eventually, are women different from men in the ways they cope with
life’s challenges? Has the woman’s liberation movement put more
pressure on women to be successful in all areas of life? what do you
think ?
(reference : http://bpp.wharton.upenn.edu/betseys/papers/Paradox%20of%20declining%20female%20happiness.pdf)
Kevin Lai
whatsoever . (all would apply to men as well)
In view of the input earlier from Maria.
Perhaps consider this some of the situations
1. Ignorance is Bliss
The olden days of womanhood is considerably simpler and many would
choose to live a life of ignorance. Perhaps this simplicity leads to a
higher level of "happiness". I'm also saying this statement assuming
that the person is free from prejudice and any form of unjust/abuse.
2. Lack of choice is sometimes a better choice.
By limiting some of the choices that we have in life perhaps it's
easier to attain a higher level of happiness. While we know more, have
better socio economic status and options , we open up more doors to
opportunities which invariably entangle us in the grind of life and
the rat race. We then choose to pursue more options and in the hope
for a better life. A better life that never comes for most - not
realizing that they already have everything that they have in their
life NOW.
3. Does education and better economic viability lead you down the path
of happiness.
Perhaps consider the research below. What are some of the biggest
changes in Women's life around the globe. Perhaps most can narrow down
to some of the few factors. Education and the ability to be hugely
economically viable. I'm not for this idea the idea that we should not
school our women and for them to have a viable career (for one I'd
expect to school my daughter if I have one in the future!) Invariably
, the above would imply that most women would be subjected to more
pressures of life and as well as higher form of competitions.
4. Factor of Time.
As time passes by women may find themselves with lesser and lesser
time. Ask any working mother .....
Also not just the less amount of time but the less amount of quality
time. After all one thing remained constant from the beginning of time
till now we only have 24 hours a day (lets not get too technical on
definition of 24 hours and how earth might be slowing down etc)
Hm... perhaps lets stop here :)
Kev.