The myth of the "superwoman"

The cultural myth of the “superwoman” idealizes women who are perceived as effortlessly able to balance demanding careers, caregiving responsibilities, social life, and personal goals. While often portrayed as empowering, this narrative can also generate implicit pressure and chronic stress.

To what extent does assuming multiple roles inevitably lead to physical and psychological exhaustion?

A study published in PLOS ONE explored the relationships among women’s life roles, perceived stress, and objective physiological markers. The investigation involved a non-random sample of 308 women in North America, evaluating engagement across seven distinct life roles. Psychological stress was assessed using the PSS-10 scale, while physiological stress was measured via cortisol levels in non-invasive samples, including hair and urine, employing a specialized ELISA assay developed by Arbor Assays. This approach enabled, for the first time, the integration of subjective and biological dimensions of stress in analyzing the “superwoman” construct.

Importantly, the study went beyond merely counting roles, examining both the degree of involvement and the satisfaction associated with each. This challenges classical role theory, which tends to classify roles simplistically as either enriching or burdensome. Contrary to common assumptions, the results demonstrated that women engaged in a greater number of roles did not exhibit higher levels of stress - neither subjective nor physiological - nor lower life satisfaction compared to women with fewer responsibilities.

Even participants identified as “superwomen,” who maintain high engagement across multiple roles (professional, familial, personal, and social), did not display elevated stress indicators or reduced overall well-being. These findings indicate that the mere multiplicity of roles is not a determinant of stress or dissatisfaction.

The study concludes that women’s well-being is influenced more by the quality of the experiences within each role than by the number of roles undertaken. Meaning, satisfaction, and engagement in each role appear to be critical, shifting the perspective from a deterministic view to a more individualized and context-sensitive understanding of women’s health.

Conducted by Drs. Sumra and Schillaci, this research underscores the need for personalized strategies that consider specific contexts, such as those faced by single mothers, who may encounter unique challenges and require targeted community support and public policies. Additionally, it highlights the value of biomedical analytical tools, such as Arbor Assays’ cortisol assays, in advancing understanding of the biological mechanisms underpinning stress, identity, and well-being, thereby contributing to more precise research and promoting health equity.

These Arbor Assays kits are available in Spain through their exclusive distributor, bioNova científica.