The Women's Bioethic Project blog discusses the latest research about women, expressing anger and heart disease. Turns out anger doesn't make women sick. Phew!
I'm particularly interested because they talk about how men and women respond to anger differently, but they don't bring up one of the primary differences I observe. When I get really really angry I find that, unbidden and definitely unwanted, tears spring to my eyes. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to communicate strongly and forcefully while simultaneously trying to swallow back tears. And need I say that the frustration at the tears only adds to the liklihood that you'll be so frustrated you'll start to cry?! No, I need not!
The difference some of the research does show is that men experience anger and express it by confrontation or vocal displeasure, whereas women are more likely to channel anger into trying to create change more indirectly. (What does that mean I wonder? Writing letters to the editor or to a store owner or something?)
Anyway, the bottom line is that anger can be a healthy emotion. Especially the way we women channel it into tangible action :)
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