Navigating Patriarchal Trauma With Feminist Depth Psychology
Living in a patriarchal system as a woman can be profoundly destabilizing, often manifesting as a form of cultural and intergenerational trauma. We are conditioned to suppress our anger, silence our pain, and contort ourselves to fit societal expectations that were never designed for our liberation. This ongoing psychological burden—compounded by the current climate of fear, division, and uncertainty—keeps our nervous systems in a constant state of hypervigilance.
The collective distress surrounding this election cycle is not just stressful; for many, it is retraumatizing. When we exist in a perpetual fight-or-flight state, our emotional and physical bodies suffer. Chronic stress dysregulates our nervous system, leading to increased anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and physical ailments. Even if we try to detach, the psychic atmosphere of instability seeps in.
So, how do we reclaim our agency and tend to our well-being in a world that often denies the legitimacy of our rage, fear, and grief?
1. Honor and Express Your Emotions
Women have historically been taught to either internalize anger—often leading to depression and self-blame—or externalize it in ways that can feel destructive. But anger is not inherently harmful; it is a messenger. Depth psychology teaches us that our emotions hold profound wisdom. Engage with them. Speak them. Journal them. Share them in safe, supportive spaces. Rather than fearing your anger, approach it with curiosity. What is it trying to protect? What does it need?
2. Move Your Body
Anger is a mobilizing force—it is meant to propel us toward change. Physiologically, our bodies respond to fear and rage by preparing for action. When that energy has nowhere to go, it festers. Moving your body—whether through walking, dancing, running, or shaking—helps process and release what feels stuck.
3. Set Boundaries with the Media and Your Environment
The news cycle and social media thrive on keeping us in a heightened state of fear and outrage. While staying informed is important, it’s equally crucial to recognize when consumption turns into emotional overwhelm. Give yourself permission to step away. Go outside. Touch the earth. Notice beauty. These moments of respite are not acts of avoidance but of self-preservation.
4. Recognize the Transformative Power of Collective Anger
Anger, when channeled intentionally, is revolutionary. It signals that something is deeply unjust and demands redress. Yet, navigating when to fight and when to release is one of the hardest dilemmas we face. Feminist psychologist Carol Gilligan reminds us that patriarchy alienates us from our authentic voices. Part of reclaiming our power is discerning where our energy is most impactful and where we must relinquish control for the sake of our well-being. As Viktor E. Frankl wrote: “Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.”
5. Reclaim joy and connection
Patriarchy thrives on isolation and disempowerment. One of the most radical acts of resistance is to cultivate joy, connection, and pleasure despite it all. Joy is not frivolous—it is essential for resilience. Make space for laughter, art, music, and deep conversations with people who see and affirm you. Seek out sisterhood, chosen family, and collective spaces where you feel safe to be your full self. We heal in relationship, and in a world that tries to keep us disconnected, reaching for one another is an act of defiance.
This is a difficult time for many, but for those who identify as women or LGBTQ+, the weight can feel especially heavy. You don’t have to carry it alone.
I offer psychotherapy for women in Oakland and virtually throughout California. If you need support, reach out. You deserve to be heard.