Men Vs Women in the workplace (stress)

Do women suffer from more stress in the workplace, compared to their male counterparts?
Name of the Student
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Do women suffer from more stress in the workplace, compared to their male counterparts?
Background and Hypothesis
In this modern era, gender discrimination is an act of violation. Individuals should be treated equally in the workplace, without any gender bias. The potential employers also display the famous and popular hash tag as equal opportunity employers. However, the reality is that gender discrimination does take place in the workplace. Occupational stress is quite common and affects individuals irrespective of sex. However, women are more prone to workplace stress compared to men. Stress is a subjective concept that might arise due to physical factors or psychological factors. Physical stress may be directly dependent on the nature of physical activity exhibited at the workplace. On the other hand, psychological stress may arise from various factors. Such factors may be physical or psychological. The article wants to evaluate the hypothesis that in the workplace, the prevalence of stress in women is more compared to their male counterparts.
Supportive Literature
In a study done by Jick & Mitzi (1985), the authors provided empirical evidence between stresses on sex. These authors reviewed nineteen studies where women indicated that they faced more workplace stress than their male counterparts. These women reported higher levels of psychological distress at the workplace compared to men.

The authors were of the conclusion that men and women were likely to be exposed to different types of stressors, which caused the difference in their level of psychological distress. They also concluded that gender can moderate the relationship between stressors and men and women have separate coping mechanisms about workplace stress. The review indicated that men had better-coping strategies than women, which was the reason that they reported less psychological distress compared to women.
Another meta-analysis was carried out by Nelson & Quick in 1990. The review consisted of 99 studies that were related to issues faced by women in the workplace, which resulted in stress in them. The review reflected once again that women suffer from more workplace stress than men. The meta-analysis endorsed due to equality of gender in the workplace; women suffer from the same stressors that the men are also exposed to. However, there are certain unique stressors which put women in experiencing more stress in the workplace compared their male counterparts. The authors referred to such stressors as “unique stressors”. The specific stressors which the authors identified to be unique amongst women were discrimination, stereotyped job functions, balancing personal /professional life at the workplace and social isolation (Nelson & Quick 1990).
From the above two analysis, it is clearly depicted that women suffer from more workplace stress compared to men. These two studies were analyzed to evaluate the difference in perception of stressors at a gap of 5 years. The first study was concluded on 1985 while the second study was concluded 1990. Although these two reviews were reported at different time periods, the observation that women suffered from more workplace stress compared to men, remained the same.
My Perceptions and Anticipations in My Field of Practice
I have always dreamt of pursuing a career in nursing. The field of healthcare has always attracted me and the dignity associated with clinical practice appeals me the most. However, I am also aware that being a woman I would also be exposed to stress in my workplace (healthcare settings) compared to my male counterparts. I have searched from literature review regarding hazards of nursing practice. Such hazards I perceive as unique stressors, which are predominantly oriented towards nursing personnel and more specifically towards female nurses. One study indicated that nurses are exposed to violence and are affected by it in the healthcare settings (Park Cho & Hong 2015).
Verbal abuse was the common stressor that was reported by 63.8% nurses who participated in that study. This percentage was followed by the threat of violence and physical assault. The study further reflected that verbal abuses were more in the intensive care units while physical abuse and sexual molestations were common in the operation theaters (Park Cho & Hong 2015). Being a female, I would certainly expose to sexual harassment, which my male counterparts would not face in their workplace or fact in the same workplace where I would be employed.
Way Forward
Although I am aware that I would face stress in the healthcare set ups, I cannot abandon my wish of pursuing a career in nursing. However, I will be aware of certain facts which the review of the literature has helped me to understand. I would not accompany a male patient alone in the operation theater, and I should blow the whistle where there is a deviation of self-dignity. I should try to exhibit patient-centric care and would build a relationship with the patient and their family members. This will help in the prevention of abusive behavior towards me, at times of psychological and clinical exigency. By such action steps, I am confident that I can provide nursing care to my patients, without being stressed at the workplace.
References
Jick TD, Mitz LF. (1985). Sex differences in work stress. Academy of Management Review,
408-420
Nelson DL, & Quick JC. (1990). Professional women: Are distress and disease inevitable?
Academy of Management Review, 10, 206-218
Park, M., Cho, S., & Hong, H. (2015). Prevalence and perpetrators of workplace violence by nursing unit and the relationship between violence and the perceived work environment. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(1), 87-95