Women can do more and be more than ever before. The logical assumption, then, is that we must be happier. After all, more choices equals greater happiness, right? Well, maybe not. Or at least it’s not that simple.
It turns out that while women used to report being happier than men – at least on average – that trend has reversed. This “Paradox of Declining Female Happiness” is the subject of a report from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Russ Douthat wrote about this in the New York Times op-ed section.
It’s disturbing, to say the least. Especially in this culture of “happiness is next to godliness”.
Are we happy?
Is it that as women we have more and more to do than ever before? That having more choices also means having more responsibilities? Could increased responsibilities be at the root of increasing unhappiness?
Is it that we are having more and more health issues that used to belong just in the male column of health woes?
Is it that we are just now becoming aware that we are less happy?
This is such a multi-faceted issue that there probably isn’t any one primary cause. Or even just a handful of causes.
From a Personal Growth Princess perspective, the question is…what do you want to do about it?
What is your current happiness level? And are you OK with that?
How does your focus on personal growth help you be at peace with your level of happiness? Does that even matter to you…or has the “happiness craze” made you crazy?
And what’s so wrong with being happy anyway?
There is lots to say on this subject…and in a future article I’ll be discussing a provocative book which addresses how the cultural pressure to be happy (or at least act like you are) is actually decreasing your satisfaction with life, adding to your stress, and actually putting the breaks on your personal development.
What do you think about the Paradox of Declining Female Happines?
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Great post Nina — are you referring to the Marcus Buckingham work? I read an article on the Huffington Post site about it. My thinking is that a focus on work and everything else has created a separation for women. As most women have gone up the corporate ladder, building community and doing what brings us joy have fallen off of the ‘to do’ list. I’m very curious about other perspectives.