Health & Lifestyle · 6 Intermediate · October 9, 2026

Women's Anger: Speaking Up Instead of Staying Silent

Photo: U.S. Navy photo (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons

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Vocabulary

suppressed səˈprest verb

held back or prevented from being shown or expressed

She suppressed her feelings for many years because she feared being called difficult.

catcalls ˈkætˌkɔlz noun

loud, often rude remarks or whistles made to someone, usually a woman, in public

When someone catcalls her on the street, she responds without hesitation.

mental load ˈmɛntəl ˈloʊd noun

the invisible stress and burden of managing household tasks and family responsibilities

Women experience significant mental load from juggling childcare, jobs, and household work.

juggle ˈdʒʌɡəl verb

to manage multiple tasks or responsibilities at the same time

Many women juggle childcare, their own mental health, and jobs while also handling unpaid household work.

depictions dɪˈpɪkʃənz noun

representations or descriptions of someone or something in art, film, or writing

Popular culture now shows depictions of angry women as more legitimate and understandable.

penalties ˈpɛnəltiz noun

punishments or negative consequences for breaking a rule or doing something wrong

In real workplaces, women who express anger face penalties while angry men do not.

Article

For many years, women learned to hide their anger. Music artist Chess Galea once suppressed her feelings, worried others would call her "hysterical" or "difficult." Today, she expresses anger openly: if someone catcalls her, she responds without hesitation. Galea is not alone. Recent data shows British women report more anger than before. In 2024, one in five women said they felt angry throughout much of their day, compared to one in ten in 2020.

Why the Change?

Psychotherapist Jennifer Cox believes two things are happening: women actually feel more anger, and they are becoming more willing to express it. Cox noticed her female clients had physical problems like migraines and stomach issues that seemed connected to suppressed anger. She discovered a pattern: many women juggle childcare, their own mental health, and jobs while also handling unpaid household work. Statistically, women spend nearly an hour longer per day on chores and caring tasks than men do, adding invisible stress called "mental load."

Anger in Culture

Popular culture now shows angry women differently. Previous films portrayed female rage as dangerous and unstable, but recent music and films present it as legitimate. Artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Charli XCX create songs expressing rage, while the 2023 film Barbie shows its main character frustrated with impossible expectations. Cox sees these depictions as helpful. However, in real workplaces, women who express anger face penalties. Studies show that angry women lose status and influence in professional settings, while angry men do not face the same judgment.

Discussion Questions

Based on the article, why did Chess Galea used to hide her anger? What made her decide to stop?
According to psychotherapist Jennifer Cox, what physical health problems did her female clients experience, and how might suppressed anger have been connected to these problems?
The article mentions "mental load." What does this term mean, and why might it contribute to women feeling angry?
How have depictions of angry women in films and music changed in recent years? Give one example from the article.
If women expressing anger faces a social penalty at work while men do not, what do you think could help create fairness in the workplace?

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