Women's Anger on the Rise: I Rage, I Don't Care

Music artist Chess Galea, 34, is part of a growing number of women in the UK who are reporting increased feelings of anger. According to 2024 data, one in five British women experience anger on a significant portion of their days, up from one in 10 in 2020.

Galea, who previously suppressed her anger, now openly expresses it, saying she will not hesitate to react if someone catcalls her in the street.

Galea's experience is part of a broader trend of women in the UK expressing their anger and frustration. Psychotherapist Jennifer Cox, author and co-host of the Women are Mad podcast, attributes the shift to societal expectations and the mental load women carry, which often falls to them.

Cox notes that women have been socialized to prioritize being good, polite, and kind. However, this can lead to feelings of resentment and anger.

The Office for National Statistics reports that women in the UK spend nearly an hour more each day on unpaid work. Such as household chores and caregiving responsibilities. This mental load is often invisible labor that falls to women.

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Cox emphasizes the need for women to recognize and challenge these societal expectations. Saying, We've been indoctrinated with the idea of being good, polite, kind, thoughtful, and caring, but this can be suffocating.

There is a growing trend of positive representations of angry women in media and popular culture. Artists like Lily Allen, Charli XCX, and Olivia Rodrigo are releasing music that features themes of anger, frustration, and empowerment. The 2023 film Barbie also showcased the iconic doll expressing frustration with her seemingly perfect world.

Life coach Yann Dang advises women to build the muscle of standing up for themselves. Dang notes that women often learn to follow rules, but in the corporate world, these rules can be vastly different.

Psychologist Dr. Tara Brach agrees that anger has its place. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the underlying emotions that drive anger.

Saying, Anger is a messenger that brings us energy to protect, confront injustices, set boundaries, and make a change.

Despite the importance of expressing anger, women can face social penalties for doing so. A 2020 study found that women who express anger at work are often viewed as less deserving of status and influence. However, Dang argues that women can express anger at work and still succeed.

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She notes that everyday sexism, stalking, harassment, and domestic abuse are significant factors that unite women in anger and defiance.

Violence against women and girls accounts for nearly 20% of all recorded crime in England and Wales, but it often goes unreported. For Galea, being able to discuss her experiences of misogyny and sexual assault more openly with other women has helped her crystallize her frustration.

She notes that social media has provided a platform for women to access each other and express their anger.

As women increasingly open up about their anger, it's clear that the conversation is just beginning. One thing is certain: women's anger is no longer something to be hidden or ashamed. By acknowledging and expressing their anger, women can begin to challenge societal expectations and create positive change.