[mindprism.com]

Why does it have to be a "hysterical woman"?

Etymology: New Latin, from English hysteric, adjective, from Latin hystericus, from Greek hysterikos, from hystera womb; from the Greek notion that hysteria was peculiar to women and caused by disturbances of the uterus Date: 1801

Its an expression, like "...some crazy old man" or "...some punk kid" or "bitchy".

Advice:

1) Don't sweat the small stuff.

2) It's all small stuff.

[HairOfTheDog]

Roger all that... It is not that I have never seen a hysterical woman, I have. As a normally unhysterical woman, it seemed to be a gratuitous usage, given the level of male hysteria on this very thread, I stand by my statement/question... still have not broken a sweat, and tongue still in cheek. :~D