مؤسسة الشرق الأوسط للنشر العلمي
عادةً ما يتم الرد في غضون خمس دقائق
The Superwoman Schema (SWS) is a psychological construct in which women strive to excel across multiple roles, including professional, familial, and social responsibilities. This ongoing pursuit of perfection often results in chronic stress, leading to adverse mental and physical health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and burnout. The SWS is shaped by societal, cultural, and familial expectations, which women internalize, thereby influencing their beliefs about success, resilience, and self-worth. Recently, the concept of the "strong independent woman" has gained traction, particularly within Middle Eastern cultures, as a contemporary expression of these societal pressures. This review synthesizes the current literature on the SWS, tracing its origins within feminist theory, while critically evaluating its psychological consequences, core characteristics, and cultural variations. Additionally, the review examines how cultural contexts shape the manifestation and impact of the SWS, with an emphasis on the importance of intersectionality in understanding its complexities. By offering a comprehensive analysis of the SWS literature, this review represents an initial exploration of the phenomenon within Middle Eastern communities. This will lay the foundation for subsequent qualitative and quantitative studies aimed at further elucidating the impact and implications of the SWS in these cultural contexts