A world that is not designed for women

As the geo-economic and spatial lines of the world continue to blur for no one except President Donald Trump, who is now openly eyeing Greenland for its resources after illegally extracting the Venezuelan president and asserting control over Venezuela’s oil, here, in Malta, we spent the week debating whether it was appropriate to show a soiled sanitary towel on a billboard. I had always wondered what we would be doing as the world around us slowly burned, and now I know.

I think that if the Maltese could win at anything, it would be arguing over the floral hat the elephant in the room is wearing, while ignoring the presence of said elephant, and this week’s debate yet again proves this. As people revolted against the bloodied billboard, another piece of far more concerning news about women’s health was quietly published: women in Malta are twice as likely as men to take antidepressants.

And if that headline wasn’t sobering enough, a similar article was published outlining stark facts such as women are now drinking more than ever before, using medical cannabis at greater rates and smoking at exactly the same rate they did 20 years ago. In fact, the only reason why smoking rates are down is that men are smoking less.

So, why is this happening? Well, when it comes to antidepressants, there can be some correlation with the statistics of those who usually seek professional help when in emotional distress. Far from it being a cliché, we still live in a societal structure where men are less likely to ask for help than women, which means that we can never have truly accurate numbers about the emotional well-being of each gender.

Inequality is even reflected in the maternity and paternity leave given to each gender- Anna Marie Galea

Put simply, if men don’t ask for help, then they can’t be prescribed antidepressants. It’s also the reason why suicide rates in men remain significantly higher than those of women year-on-year.

I also believe that it’s the same societal structure that is to blame for the increase in drinking and medical cannabis in women. Despite equality bills and childcare systems, women are still expected to be primary carers. It’s mostly women outside school gates and in parent group chats. It’s still mostly women who are doing all the cooking, cleaning and laundry after almost the same, if not the same, workday as their partners. It’s mostly women who take sick days off when their children are unwell.

The inequality is even reflected in the maternity and paternity leave given to each gender. Mothers receive 18 weeks of maternity leave, with the first 14 paid by the employer and the remaining four covered by the government Maternity Benefit, and fathers still get a mere 10 days.

If we are to truly understand these rising numbers in drinking and medication, then we need to start looking at the different realities that shape women’s lives and the way in which they have been socialised. It is only when there is a proper understanding of the sexes and the struggles of living in a patriarchal society that chips away at a woman’s worth that true equality can finally be reached.

Our greatest issue is not a billboard; it’s that women have to numb themselves to survive in a world not designed for them.