When women are assertive why are they called "Hysterical"

WOMEN ARE HUMAN TOO

On a recent Australian ABC Television Panel show (Q & A) Australian journalist, Van Damham was speaking on Domestic Violence against women and the power of language. When making her point, conservative Radio Shock jock, Steve Price, interrupted her and said that she was being "Hysterical" The audience was shocked. Her reply to Price was "It's probably my ovaries making me do it Steve.

Back in the day, when people didn’t want to pay attention to a woman — or were generally disturbed by her behavior — she was taken to a doctor and diagnosed with hysteria. The word actually came from the Greek “hystera,” which literally means uterus. So, in short, the problem of having hysteria really meant the problem of being a woman.

“Hysteria” became popular in the mid 19th century, suspiciously around the same time that women’s rights began gaining momentum. The first national women’s rights convention took place in 1850. By 1859, physicians were claiming that a quarter of all women suffered from hysteria — as defined by a 75-page list of possible manifestations.

Women have two choices: Women can notice things that are upsetting and say nothing. Or, women can speak up and get called Hysterical or irrational. It’s really a catch-22. And, it’s enough to drive women, well, crazy.