Mental illnesses in Bangladeshi American women are caused by the economic and social stresses such as poverty, discrimination, and restricted gender roles. In this culture, there is a strong stigma regarding mental illness that often causes the defamation and rejection of patients and their family members. These ailments affect women the most due to the nature of their dependence and inferiority towards men. As a result of this stigma, there is an inability to confide in doctors for fear of being seen as weak. In this paper I will suggest that Bangladeshi American women subconsciously turn their mental illness into physical symptoms such as pain, aches, fatigue, dizziness, etc. as a way of coping with their mental health. Considering the fact that these somatic manifestations often do not have a discernible source, somatization of mental illnesses gives women the opportunity to seek treatment without the added concern of being stigmatized.
In addition to researching the relationship between physical and mental pain in immigrant communities, I will interview four Bangladeshi American women with questions regarding their view of mental illnesses, such as depression, and how they perceive and categorize the different stressors that they are exposed to. Behaviors that are considered somatization in the interviews will be highlighted and analyzed.
In order to help alleviate the physical pain that stands in for underlying mental health issues, reforms to educate the Bangladeshi community both in America and Bangladesh may diminish the stigma against mental illnesses as well as instill more trust in the medical system. An example of reform is convincing Bangladeshi women to partake in psychotherapy or even family therapy, which can alleviate household problems and combat fixated gender roles. By becoming more knowledgeable about mental illnesses and the role of the doctor, Bangladeshi women can take steps toward countering somatization.
