Latest news with #genderRoles
The National
5 days ago
- Sport
- The National
It isn't just government policy that oppresses women in Iran, as recent assaults show
Iranians have lately been engulfed in debates around misogyny, gender roles and violence against women. A few disconnected events have helped push these issues to the top. The body of Elahe Hosseinnejad, 24, was found in a deserted area outside Tehran earlier this month. A nail stylist at a beauty salon, she had been missing for 11 days after getting into a taxi home. The taxi driver was later arrested, having confessed to killing her with a knife. Just days earlier, a coach and two athletes representing Iran at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea were arrested on allegations of sexual assault. A young South Korean woman has accused them of assaulting her in their hotel room after they met in a nearby bar. Iran's athletics federation has confirmed 'inappropriate behaviour' by the three men. The case is ongoing and the accused might face life sentences if convicted. The two events are unrelated but they both involve violence against women and have tested social attitudes. The feminist community has used them to raise awareness while, inevitably, they have become central to broader political controversies. Following the athletes' arrests, many in the sports community called for Ehsan Haddadi, who heads Iran's athletics federation, to resign. A demonstration was held against him in front of Iran's sports ministry last week. They brought up the former discus thrower's own dubious past, including his 2006 conviction and subsequent jail time for harassing a woman. Haddadi has another open sexual harassment case against him, and critics say his appointment shows a culture of impunity in Iran and the government's lack of attention to women's concerns. The government has also drawn criticism over murder case, particular over its inability to provide adequate safety and security to its citizens. They point to a lack of proper public transportation and a sharp increase in crime in recent years. Opponents of the government are debating among themselves, too. Iran has one of the highest number of executions in the world, and critics have advocated for the abolition of the death penalty – a position some of the more conservative opponents disagree with. Another debate pits criticism of the government's competency, or lack thereof, against broader sociopolitical critiques. Some argue that eradicating violence against women requires systemic changes that go beyond politics and that that's where the focus should be. Shocking reactions of some Iranian celebrities to the assault case lends credence to this argument. The US-based influencer Aisan Eslami, with more than 14 million followers on Instagram, has in particular incensed many. In one video, he mockingly said the events in South Korea were of great national pride for Iranians and that the three men had 'held the flag high'. In a later clip, he called the three accused men 'our brothers' and criticised those who were 'getting all honourable' on behalf of the victim (a reference to whom carried racial undertones). This is hardly surprising from Eslami, who is something of an Iranian version of Andrew Tate, the right-wing American influencer. Previously, Eslami verbally attacked female Iranian influencers based in Dubai, openly calling for their male relatives to murder them for what he saw as inappropriate online behaviour on their part. But Eslami isn't the only figure to downplay the assault case. Mohammad Mayeli Kohan, a former national football team coach, said what the Iranian athletes did was 'indubitably ugly' but also accused Haddadi's opponents of seeking 'personal revenge' against him. More troublingly, he added: 'In South Korea, such issues are not viewed so negatively. We have to see why they made a big deal out of this one.' Eradicating violence against women requires systemic changes that go beyond politics Javad Kazemian, a former footballer, said: 'Such things are natural and they happen everywhere in the world … they are making too much out of this. Let's be men and human and think what we would have done had this happened to ourselves?' It's worth pointing out that Eslami, Mayeli Kohan and Kazemian have all faced backlash for their comments. Just as heartening are the reactions of other Iranians. For example, Ehsan Mohajer Shojaei, who competed in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, said the 'catastrophe' in South Korea made him ashamed to be an Iranian athlete. He also called for Haddadi to resign. Another issue that has fuelled gender-based debates, albeit on a much lighter register, relates to a pioneering reality TV show that has captured millions of views since its debut last month. Eternal Love is modelled after the Love Island franchise that began in the UK in 2005 and has since expanded to other countries. The Iranian version is set in Bodrum, Turkey and is produced by a Turkish company that also brought out versions based in Turkey and some Arab countries. Hosted by the Iranian actress Parastoo Salehi, the show is broadcast on YouTube to overcome Iran's strict censorship rules. Its first episode was viewed more than 7.5 million times, and the show has 1.5 million followers on Instagram. Like its western counterparts, it features frank discussions and depictions of sexuality and romance. Such portrayals are not particularly new to Iranian audiences who are used to open programming broadcast to the country by Persian-language outlets based abroad. But the show is still the first of its kind, which explains its large viewing numbers. But Eternal Love has also provoked debates on attitudes towards gender. In an episode aired this week, a male participant was seen pushing a female contestant, leading to an avalanche of public discussions on domestic violence. All three instances, troubling as they are in varying degrees – and the widespread reactions to them – have shed much-needed light on gender-based issues in Iran. They are also a reminder that these issues are not always directly linked to repressive government policies. They can surface anywhere.
Medical News Today
21-05-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Menopause and mental health: Symptoms and management
The hormonal changes associated with menopause can affect a person's mental health. A person may also experience changes in their mental health due to the physical symptoms of menopause. Menopause is a natural event in which a person permanently stops having menstrual periods. The menopausal transition, or perimenopause, describes the time leading up to menopause in which a person experiences changes in the menstrual cycle and other symptoms. This article explores the mental health symptoms someone may experience during the menopausal transition. It also examines how the physical symptoms of the menopausal transition may affect a person's mental health, tips for managing mental health during the menopausal transition, and when to speak with a healthcare professional. You'll notice the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of 'male' and 'female' or 'men' and 'women.' While we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical in mood, such as increased irritability increased irritability signs of depression, which may include chronic feelings of: sadness emptiness guilt or worthlessness signs of anxiety, which can involve feelings of: Gender roles and expectations may also affect a person's mental health. In heterosexual relationships, women still do the most child care and household labor overall. These responsibilities, combined with the physical symptoms of menopause, may contribute to stress and other changes in mental health. Furthermore, some people may experience changes in mental health due to changes in caregiving responsibilities, such as children leaving home or older relatives requiring care due to illness or disability. Hot flashes: A hot flash describes a rush of heat that affects the upper body and face. If a hot flash occurs at night, it may interrupt someone's sleep and lead to tiredness or fatigue during the day. Lack of sleep may contribute to irritability and feelings of depression. A hot flash describes a rush of heat that affects the upper body and face. If a hot flash occurs at night, it may interrupt someone's sleep and lead to tiredness or fatigue during the day. Lack of sleep may contribute to irritability and feelings of depression. Vaginal dryness: As estrogen decreases during the menopausal transition, the lining of the vagina may become dryer, thinner, and less elastic. This may cause pain during sex, which, in turn, may cause feelings of anxiety or distress. As estrogen decreases during the menopausal transition, the lining of the vagina may become dryer, thinner, and less elastic. This may cause pain during sex, which, in turn, may cause feelings of anxiety or distress. Low sex drive: People often experience low libido during the menopausal transition. This may lead to feelings of anxiety. People often experience low libido during the menopausal transition. This may lead to feelings of anxiety. Sleep problems: Menopause may contribute to sleep problems, such as insomnia and waking up much earlier than usual. Changes in sleep schedule may contribute to irritability and other changes in mood. Menopause may contribute to sleep problems, such as insomnia and waking up much earlier than usual. Changes in sleep schedule may contribute to irritability and other changes in mood. Urinary incontinence: Individuals often experience difficulties with bladder control and an increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) during menopause. This may lead to feelings of anxiety and irritability. Individuals often experience difficulties with bladder control and an increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) during menopause. This may lead to feelings of anxiety and irritability. Changes in body composition: People may lose muscle while gaining fat, experience skin dryness and thinning, or have muscle and joint pain or stiffness. These changes may lead to lower self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence, as well as negative body image. A 2023 review suggests that menopausal symptoms are associated with a more negative body image perception. Some tips for managing mental health during menopause include: People may need to try several different management techniques or a combination of management techniques before finding the right one for them. » Learn more:Natural remedies to help manage perimenopause symptoms A person should contact a doctor if they notice any new or worsening mental health symptoms during the menopausal transition. A healthcare professional can recommend appropriate treatment and other resources to help with the mental and physical symptoms of menopause. If they experience severe mental health symptoms, such as suicidal ideation, they should contact their local emergency services. Some possible mental health symptoms associated with the menopausal transition include changes in mood and signs of anxiety and depression. People may also experience changes in mental health, such as low self-esteem and self-confidence, due to the physical symptoms of menopause. Tips for managing mental health during menopause include seeking support from loved ones, speaking with a mental health professional, and talking with a doctor about treatments for the physical symptoms. A person should contact a healthcare professional if they notice any new or worsening mental health symptoms during the menopausal transition.
