| Women's problems a myth, study finds
:wavey:
Women's problems a myth, study finds
From: By Eloise King
June 22, 2006
PRE-MENSTRUAL tension, post-natal depression and menopausal outbursts do not exist, controversial research has claimed.
Instead these are "catch-all" diagnoses being used as an excuse by women to explain the stressful effects of their modern lives.
University of Western Sydney's professor of women's health and psychology Jane Ussher yesterday claimed women's unhappiness was being wrongly diagnosed as a product of their reproductive bodies.
Drawing on 20 years of research - including in-depth interviews with British and Australian women - Professor Ussher said PMS and PND were products of repressed rage stemming from social pressure.
"I would argue that PMS and PND are essentially a form of repressed rage women feel, rather than a medical illness," she said.
"Our research has shown that their distress often stems from women trying to do too much for everyone - except themselves."
Professor Ussher said PMS, PMD and menopause had become "catch-all" diagnostic categories that wrongly legitimised medical management of their condition.
"The problem with this view is that it ignores the fact that female unhappiness is often an understandable response to the realities of women's lives," she said.
"Women feel that they are expected to cope with the gamut of responsibilities - including their job, partner, children, extended family, housework etc - without complaint."
Professor Ussher said her research showed relaxing "time-out" was the answer to reducing what was categorising as PMS and PND.
"Our studies have shown that women cope with changes and stress at different times in their lives if they are given time out from their responsibilities and provided with some self-care options," she said.
Professor Ussher's findings relating to PMS, PMD and menopause can be found in her new book: Managing the Monstrous Feminine: Regulating the Reproductive Body. | 
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