Education is a cornerstone of personal and societal development, yet for many girls in Nigeria,…
When Attacks and Silence Collide: The Untold Mental Health Struggles of Women and Girls in a Shrinking Civic Space
When safe spaces disappear, so too does our sense of sanctuary, leaving us vulnerable in a world increasingly hostile to our existence. For women and girls, the challenges go beyond political marginalization. The intersection of targeted attacks and enforced silence profoundly impacts the mental health, leaving scars that are rarely acknowledged, let alone addressed.
By Soneye Adetutu Eniola
The concept of shrinking civic space for structurally silenced women is a paradox that many women human rights defenders (WHRDs) do not discuss, this is not just about the visible attacks; it is also about the insidious power of silence. Societal norms often discourage women from speaking out about their experiences, framing their struggles as personal rather than systemic. This silencing isolates them, depriving them of collective solidarity and the opportunity to heal.
Currently, there is increased shrinking civic space for WHRDs across the country where state and non-state actors use legal, administrative but also voice and use threats to shrink civic space for WHRDs and feminists for structurally silenced women. This in turn attempts to hinder the work and silence the voices of human rights defenders and civil society organizations.
For adolescent girls, the impact is even more pronounced. In many cultures, they are taught to be “seen and not heard,” stifling their aspirations for activism or leadership. This internalized silencing not only limits their participation in civic life but also exacerbates feelings of invisibility, low self-worth, and helplessness, this as a result cause mental breakdown, isolation, and suicidal thought which sometimes leads to depression and eventually leads to either suicide or suicide attempts.
Women’s mental health needs to be considered in the context of the interaction of physical, reproductive, and biological factors with social, political, and economic issues at stake. The multiple roles played by women such as childbearing and child rearing, running the family, caring for sick relatives, and, in an increasing proportion of families, earning income are likely to lead to considerable stress. The reproductive roles of women, such as their expected role of bearing children, the consequences of infertility, and the failure to produce a male child in some cultures are examples of mechanisms that make women vulnerable to suffering from mental disorders.
Many women activists and community leaders are simultaneously caregivers, bearing the emotional labor of supporting others while navigating their own trauma. The pressure to remain resilient, often perceived as a necessity to sustain their activism, can lead to burnout. Studies show that women in these roles are at heightened risk of experiencing vicarious trauma from continuously witnessing and addressing the suffering of others.
Key interventions should include:
- Trauma-informed care: that addresses the specific needs of women and girls in contexts of civic repression.
- Safe spaces for dialogue: both online and offline, where women and girls can share their stories without fear of retaliation.
- Collective healing practices: such as group therapy and community-building initiatives, to foster solidarity and resilience.
- Policies and protections: that hold perpetrators of gendered violence accountable while safeguarding the mental well-being of women and girls in activism.
Addressing the mental health struggles of women and girls in shrinking civic spaces requires global solidarity. International organizations and donors must prioritize funding for mental health services and support networks for women human rights defenders. Moreover, amplifying their voices on global platforms can counteract the isolation and silencing they experience locally.
References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/womens-mental-health
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