Erica Jamieson

Silenced and Overlooked: The Impact of Societal Norms on Women’s Mental Health Care

This article examines the ongoing influence of societal norms and gender bias in the treatment of women’s mental health. Despite advances in medical understanding, many women continue to face dismissal, misdiagnosis, and emotional invalidation within clinical settings. Drawing on contemporary research and lived experiences, the paper sheds light on issues such as medical gaslighting and diagnostic overshadowing, emphasizing how these challenges impact trust, access, and outcomes. It calls for greater awareness among healthcare providers, particularly nurses, and advocates for a more compassionate, inclusive approach to mental health care that validates the experiences of all patients.