The cost of competence: why inequality causes depression, eating disorders, and illness in women

225 Pages·1995·10.71 MB·English

by  Brett Silverstein

The Cost of Competence
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The Cost
of Competence
Why Inequality Causes Depression,
Eating Disorders, and Illness in Women
Brett Silverstein, Ph.D.
Deborah Perlick, Ph.D.
New York Oxford
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
1995
Oxford University Press
Oxford New York
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Copyright © 1995 by Oxford University Press, Inc.
Published by Oxford University Press, Inc.,
200 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016
Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior
permission of Oxford University Press.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Silverstein, Brett.
The cost of competence : why inequality causes depression, eating disorders,
and illness in women / Brett Silverstein and Deborah Perlick.
p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-19-506986-2
1. Women—Mental health—Sociological aspects.
2. Sex role.
3. Achievement motivation in women.
4. Self-esteem in women.
5. Eating disorders.
6. Somatization disorder.
7. Depression, Mental. 8. Anxiety.
I. Perlick, Deborah. II. Title.
RC451.4.W6S58 1995 155.6'33—dc20
94-44235
135798642
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
To Dr. Stanley Schachter,
who taught us to follow our noses
and go where the data lead
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hh
The work described in this book was based on the efforts of a large
number of women, primarily graduate students. They expended
great effort working on the scientific studies cited throughout this
book. They also spent many hours talking to us about their lives
and those of their mothers. Their names appear in the References
as coauthors of the cited studies, but a few deserve special mention
because they have remained involved with the research over many
years. Lauren Perdue, Shari Carpman, and Joanne Clauson are col-
leagues, and friends, who have contributed much to this work.
Richard Gordon and Rudolph Bell read an earlier version of the
book and offered suggestions that have greatly improved it.
Our editors at Oxford University Press have helped to whip
this book into shape. Rosemary Wellner, the copy editor, smoothed
out our language and tightened up our arguments. Joan Bossert, our
editor, has been involved in every step of the writing and produc-
tion of this book, and has greatly helped in shaping the final
version.
February 1995 B. S.
Mamaroneck, New York D. P.
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Contents
Introduction, 3
Part I The Forgotten Syndrome 11
1 Curves and Competence, 13
2 The Disease of Young Women, 27
3 Depression, 46
4 Anxious Somatic Depression, 59
5 Tying the Knot: Marriage, Childbearing, and Sexuality, 73
Part II Females, Families, and Achievement 89
6 Daughters and Sons, 91
7 Idealized Fathers, Devalued Mothers, 104
Part III The Theory of Gender Ambivalence 115
8 Adolescence, 117
9 Gender Ambivalence, 127
10 Anxious Somatic Depression During Periods of Changing
Gender Roles, 143