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Welcome to the revolution.
As women, we have a lot to do. A lot to manage. A lot to worry about.
Many of us experience significant role strain and role conflict – which is pressure to fulfill a growing list of demands across multiple roles – and this often leads to feelings of anxiety, depression and burnout.
But it’s time to confront this strain head on. It’s time for us to stop carrying the weight of societal, familial and personal expectations all alone and get it out in the open. It’s time for us to do something about it.
AJLI’s Every Woman. All Things. initiative is a revolution to confront women’s mental overload of having to do it all through multipronged awareness and advocacy campaigns executed at the international, national and local levels. Our vision is to change the culture of expectations leading to anxiety for women. We strive to decrease pressure on women from role strain, increase a sense of belonging and to increase access to existing resources and services.
Your mental health is important. In fact, we’d like to help you make it a top priority. And we want to help others prioritize it too.
If you sometimes feel like your to-do list is unmanageable, you are in the right place. We want to do what we can to help lighten your load. We are glad you’re here.
There is a need
- According to the British Medical Association, one in five women experience depression or anxiety, compared to one in eight men.
- The National Association of Mental Illness states that one in 20 adults in the United States experience serious mental illness.
- The CDC states that suicide is not only one of the leading causes of death, but that it is growing.
- The American Psychological Association’s 2023 October Stress in America survey showed that, with a sample of 3,000 adults, women reported a higher average level of stress than men. According to the study, the way women and men react to stress is the bigger factor, with women internalizing, leading to more physical and mental disorders.
- Junior League surveyed 400 members in 2023 on mental wellness. The results show that 40 percent of members surveyed said that the statement, “I have felt like I am not enough,” was very relatable or relatable and 51% of members surveyed said that the statement “I have felt pressure to be ‘perfect’ or ‘have it all’” was very relatable or relatable.
The numbers show that women’s mental health needs additional attention. Our goal for Every Woman. All Things. is to achieve substantial change in the areas of women’s mental health through education and advocacy.
Currently, the vast majority of women’s mental health research and role strain focuses on the balance of work and home roles. However, AJLI is adding to this research to encompass and address the multitude of additional roles that women take on – for example, community member, volunteer, family caregiver, etc.
We have established an expert research committee led by a faculty member at Western Michigan University’s School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs, who also serves as program director for the undergraduate Health Administration program. She is leading our qualitative and quantitative research—which has been approved by the IRB at Western Michigan University–on women’s mental overload.
As our continued research in this field uncovers more causes and needs relating to women’s role strain and conflict, additional awareness and advocacy efforts are being developed.
A movement backed by years of community impact experience
The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.
Over the past 125 years, AJLI has welcomed more than 1.9 million women into its ranks with a goal of improving communities internationally. As one of the largest dues-paying women’s membership organizations, Junior League is a force for change. In total, 298 leagues have worked to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact, while advocating for change in a multitude of social arenas.
Research shows that all the following barriers contribute to negative outcomes in women’s lives – lack of development and leadership opportunities; lack of community and meaningful connection; family and caregiver responsibilities; inadequate women’s wellness and safety measures; and sexism, stereotypes and workplace bias. Through grassroots action and collective international awareness and advocacy, The Junior Leagues work to eliminate all these barriers so women can lead an optimal life.
As a result of this work, The Junior League—and the more than 125,000 women in communities across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, and Kenya who comprise its ranks—has amassed an archive of tangible results and a reputation as a change agent dedicated to the public good.
Building on a history of responding to timely societal needs through creating change around women’s suffrage, alcoholism awareness and child welfare, AJLI launched the Every Woman. All Things. initiative to positively impact the area of women’s mental health.