How are women’s daily lives in modern day affected negatively by generational trauma,

specifically of women's oppression

When we reflect on the history of oppression, it's impossible not to ask ourselves: are

these issues still relevant in today's world? Women's oppression has often meant barring women

from participating in everyday life—whether that’s in the workplace or the political sphere. This

includes voting rights or even holding government positions. Often, such oppression can be

insidious, manifesting as societal pressures that shape the way girls are raised and what they

believe their roles should be. This brings me to my research question: How does generational

trauma, especially stemming from women's oppression, negatively shape the daily lives of

women today? Additionally, I want to explore how this trauma influences mental health

outcomes and perpetuates rigid gender roles and expectations. It's a daunting challenge, as this

isn't simply a physical problem but rather a deeply rooted mental one that many women face

today. If we can address these issues, we might help women feel valued and recognized,

reinforcing their efforts to improve their lives rather than being seen as stagnant. But where does

this oppression originate, and how have women in the past fought against it?

Throughout history, women's oppression has been a constant and systemic issue that

manifests in myriad ways across different cultures. In ancient societies, women were often

stripped of legal and political rights, living under the dominion of fathers and husbands.

Disturbing practices, like the ritual suicide of widows in certain cultures, highlight the limited

choices available to women who lacked male support. This oppression has perpetuated ideas of

enforced modesty and harsh punishments for women who defy societal expectations about sexual
behavior. Friedrich Engels, from a Marxist perspective, claimed that the dawn of class societies

and private property marked a significant setback for women—declaring a 'world historical

defeat of the female sex.' This shift effectively turned women into property, valued primarily for

their reproductive capabilities. The feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s sought to

investigate and challenge these oppressive structures, drawing on the insights of thinkers like

Simone de Beauvoir and Mary Wollstonecraft. Yet, despite meaningful progress, the historical

legacy of oppression continues to shape gender dynamics today.

Nostalgia can often distort our view of the past, casting it in a light that glosses over

harsh realities. Johan Norberg critiques this phenomenon in his article "False Nostalgia." While

yearning for the past can be comforting, it can also obscure genuine injustices and difficulties

that existed. Norberg highlights that the 'good old days' many romanticize were fraught with

issues—from lower life expectancy to greater social inequalities—easily overlooked in our

longing for a simpler time. This selective idealization can be perilous, influencing both policies

and societal attitudes. Acknowledging the darker aspects of our past is crucial for progress, so we

don't repeat the same mistakes. Rather than clinging to an idealized version of history, we should

confront it with honesty to foster real growth and resist regressive traditions.

In Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah’s essay "My Mother's House," the physical space of her

mother's home becomes a powerful symbol of the complexities surrounding identity and the

inherited roles that women often take on within families and cultures. The house represents both

a haven and a constraint, illustrating how a space can offer comfort while simultaneously

enforcing traditional expectations. Ghansah's reflections reveal how the domestic sphere, often
romanticized through nostalgia, can trap women's identities within the confines of caregiving and

homemaking. This theme of nostalgia is echoed in Johan Norberg's work, where he argues that

longing for the past often overlooks the systemic inequalities that women have faced. By

weaving her personal narrative with broader societal critique, both Ghansah and Norberg reveal

the dangers of unexamined nostalgia, underscoring the necessity of recognizing and challenging

the historical patterns that have restricted women's identities.

In the United States, the women's rights movement emerged from centuries of legal and

social oppression, leaving women virtually powerless. The National Women's History Alliance

points out that women were legally subordinate to their husbands, with no voice or vote in the

laws affecting their lives. Women could not own property, sign legal documents, serve on juries,

or, in many cases, gain custody of their children. A glaring example of this disenfranchisement is

the fact that married women’s wages were considered property of their husbands, and many were

denied higher education. These inequities culminated in the first women's rights convention in

Seneca Falls in 1848, where figures like Elizabeth Cady Stanton demanded equal rights,

including suffrage. Over decades of tireless activism—through protests, petitions, and grassroots

organizing—significant milestones were achieved, such as the ratification of the 19th

Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote, highlighting how persistent struggle and

advocacy can confront systemic oppression.

According to a recent United Nations report referenced by AP News, women's rights are

increasingly under threat globally, with nearly a quarter of governments reporting that progress

toward gender equality has stalled or even reversed in recent years. The report outlines several
contributors to this worrying trend, including rising authoritarianism, economic instability, armed

conflict, and diminishing legal protections. In places like Afghanistan, for instance, the Taliban

has systematically removed women's rights to education, employment, and public

involvement—prompting UN experts to label the situation as "gender apartheid." The

COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities, as lockdowns led to a spike in domestic

violence and removed many women from the workforce, particularly impacting sectors where

women are predominantly employed, like healthcare, education, and service industries. UN

Secretary-General António Guterres urged the global community to take immediate and

coordinated action, stressing that "half of humanity is held back" and that achieving global

development goals hinges on securing full rights and equal opportunities for women.

While the UN has positioned itself as a leader in promoting women's rights, critiques

abound regarding its effectiveness. For instance, in 2021, Iran was elected to a four-year term on

the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), despite well-documented restrictions on

women’s freedoms regarding movement, dress, education, and political participation. Critics

argue that such choices undermine the UN’s credibility and propagate a damaging message about

global standards for gender equality. Moreover, a 2022 investigation revealed that many of the

UN’s gender mainstreaming initiatives suffer from vague goals, weak accountability, and

inadequate execution, with some programs running for years without measurable impact. Reports

indicate millions of dollars have been wasted on gender equality campaigns lacking coordination

or data-driven results. Such discrepancies raise questions about how the UN, while publicly

championing women’s rights, often fails to back up its pledges with effective internal practices,

revealing a pressing need for transparency and reform within the organization.
 In her insightful piece, "Oppression and Women's History," Linda Napikoski delves into

the complex nature of women's oppression throughout history. She describes oppression as the

unjust use of authority, law, or force to deny individuals their freedom or equality. Historically,

women have been systematically deprived of legal and political rights, frequently relegated to the

control of their fathers and husbands in cultures around the globe. Napikoski brings to light how

sexual violence has functioned both as a manifestation and a method of oppression, reinforcing

power imbalances and instilling psychological trauma that obstructs women's autonomy. From a

Marxist viewpoint, thinkers like Friedrich Engels argued that the rise of private property and

class systems signaled a significant defeat for women, with societies transitioning from

matrilineal to patriarchal structures. Through her analysis, Napikoski emphasizes the pervasive

nature of women's oppression and the need to acknowledge its many dimensions to effectively

dismantle it.

In "Women: What We Pass Down," the VERVE Team discusses the lasting impact of

historical and generational trauma on women's lives. Historical trauma refers to the profound

psychological wounds communities endure due to past injustices, while generational trauma

describes how these effects are transmitted through family lines. The article argues that women

have faced systemic abuse—physical, emotional, and economic—that continues to influence

their mental and physical well-being. Women are statistically more susceptible to conditions like

depression, PTSD, and heart disease, with PTSD symptoms often lasting longer in women than

their male counterparts. These findings suggest that not only do women deal with personal

trauma, but they also inherit unresolved pain from preceding generations. Nevertheless, the
article celebrates women's resilience, emphasizing how survival strategies and strength are

passed down through maternal bonds, enabling many to rise above these enduring challenges.

UN Watch has raised legitimate concerns about the credibility of the UN Commission on

the Status of Women (CSW), particularly highlighting instances where nations with poor records

on women's rights have been appointed to leadership positions. In 2019, Iran, known for

imprisoning women who protest laws surrounding compulsory hijab, was selected to the CSW’s

Working Group, while Iraq, one of the lowest ranked countries in terms of gender equality, was

named Vice Chair. Such appointments cast doubt on the CSW’s commitment to its core mission.

Additionally, the CSW has faced criticism for selectively addressing human rights violations,

often ignoring egregious abuses in countries like Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Pakistan, while

persistently targeting Israel without acknowledging violations by Palestinian authorities. This

selective approach suggests a politicization that undermines the CSW’s credibility as a champion

for global women's rights.

Ultimately, women’s oppression is a deeply entrenched and multifaceted issue that affects

cultures and systems of power throughout history. As the United Nations report underscores,

setbacks in gender equality remain widespread, with systemic violence, legal inequality, and

socio-political exclusion continuing to weigh heavily on women around the world. Linda

Napikoski’s article provides important historical context, explaining how patriarchal structures

and cultural norms have long supported the subjugation of women—often justified by distorted

ideologies and reinforced by institutional frameworks. This historical burden echoes today, not

just at the policy level but also in personal contexts, as discussed in the VERVE article about
how trauma can linger through generations of women. Yet, critiques from sources like UN Watch

and Pluckrose and Lindsay remind us that even those advocating for women’s rights can fall prey

to bias, political maneuvers, or structural inefficiency. The UN has often come under scrutiny for

including oppressive states in discussions about women's rights, which undermines its

legitimacy. At the intersection of these complex perspectives, scholars like Bernadette Ward

remind us of the profound ways generational trauma and cultural history can impact individual

relationships, particularly within marginalized communities.

Word count; 1,722

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unwatch.org/database/problems/csw/?utm_s. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Eisenberg, Bonnie, and Mary Ruthsdotter. “History of the Women’s Rights Movement.” National

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nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/history-of-the-womens-rights-movement/.

EROL. “Basis of Women’s Oppression.” Marxists.org, 2019,

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Russell, George. “U.N. Plan to Promote Equality for Women Has Been a Costly Failure,

Investigation Finds.” Fox News, 11 Apr. 2011,

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medium.com/verve-up/women-what-we-pass-down-28e25aaae0b6.

“UN Secretary-General Says Women’s Right Are under Threat.” AP News, 6 Mar. 2023,

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