Tag: women
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month: October 2025
Everyone deserves to live in a home that is their sanctuary, free from violence and intimidation. Yet for millions of people around the world, home is a prison. The month of October is dedicated to raising awareness of the prevalence of domestic violence and to show support and solidarity with its victims. The global initiative…
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Mother Hunger as disenfranchised grief
Surprises in life can create complex grief like disenfranchised grief. This term refers to grief that society, as a whole, fails to recognize, validate, or support, leaving individuals feeling isolated in their mourning (Doka, 1989). A particularly poignant expression of this grief is tied to the idea of Mother Hunger, a term popularised by counsellor…
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But Instagram says
Whether we like it or not, social media is a huge part of our daily lives. For those of us, like me, who did not grow up with social media informing and influencing us at every turn, we can easily overlook or underestimate the profound effect it can have on people of all ages and…
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Understanding postnatal mental health & matrescence
Bringing a child into the world is a monumental transition, not just physically and financially, but emotionally and psychologically. This period, often described as matrescence – the process of becoming a mother – is akin to adolescence, involving profound changes in identity, hormones, and relationships. Unlike puberty, it is much less researched and more commonly…
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Women in Male-Dominated Industries: Challenges, Well-Being, and the Future
In industries such as engineering and technology, women remain underrepresented despite growing importance on the value of gender diversity. These male-dominated fields present unique challenges for women, ranging from workplace bias to a lack of support for mental health and well-being. This article explores the barriers women face in these sectors, highlights the importance of…
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Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month: Helping Your Loved Ones Cope with the Loss of Their Baby
Too many families lose their little ones to pregnancy loss, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, SIDS or stillbirth and others; and yet, their grief is rarely acknowledged. In 1988, the US President Ronal Reagan declared October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month as a bid to shine a light on the weight bereaved families carry. Something…
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How to Help a New Mama: Understanding the Psychological Changes that Come with Motherhood
Becoming a mother is a unique experience that can be both fascinating and daunting. It is a transition that brings a variety of psychological changes, transforming the identity, priorities, relationships and emotional landscape of a woman. The process of giving birth and caring for a newborn can be a roller coaster of emotions, filled with…
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The Birth of a Mother
We go through pregnancy, labour and delivery, and a child is born. Along with a child, a mother is born too. The term “matrescence” was coined by medical anthropologist Dana Raphael (1975) who labels it as a period of transition quite similar to adolescence where a mother-to-be experiences dramatic hormonal, physical, and emotional changes including…
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Reflecting on International Women’s Day
Being a woman is a multifaceted and complex experience that is shaped by a variety of factors including biology, culture, society, and personal experiences. It can involve navigating social and political structures that have historically marginalised and oppressed women, as well as navigating personal identities and relationships. Leading up to International Women’s Day, I had…