How “Co-ruminating” Explains Why Feminists Will Never Be Happy
Co-ruminating is the process of dwelling on one’s problems, focusing on negative feelings, and encouraging excessive discussion on the issues with friends, family or like minded people. However, it has been shown that co-rumination does not lead to problem resolution, but more depression and anxiety.
The linked article discusses how co-ruminating between parents and children have negative effects, but the concept is equally true of feminists who band together in insular groups of like minded people and co-ruminate their brains out:
Originally discovered in 2002 as a phenomenon occurring among friends, co-ruminating – also called perseverating or overthinking aloud with a companion — has been linked by University of Missouri psychologist Amanda Rose to both closeness in relationship and anxiety and depression.
In other words, repetitive talking about problems brings us closer, but it can also make us unhappy. Co-rumination also interferes with people’s ability and motivation to solve problems, too, largely because it’s more about talking about challenges than taking action to address them. It is more likely to occur among girls and women.
Co-ruminating conversations are often painfully circular: we go around and around as we wonder, speculate and emote about our problems. What we don’t do is problem solve and make a decision.
After reading that, now imagine a group of feminists in a room co-ruminating about the horrors of gender inequality, sexism, rape, objectification, domestic abuse, patriarchal oppression, anti-choicers, toxic masculinity, gender stereotypes, Disney princesses and the evil of the color pink.
Do you honestly think when their conversation is over they will leave the room any happier for it?
Feminism’s sole focus on negativity, along with co-ruminating in the form of constantly harping on that negativity, ensures feminists will form close relationships with like minded feminists, but be no happier for it and solve nothing in the process.
