Women have a lot of expectations to meet in society. The world places a lot of pressure on women to be everything for everyone else, and many times that makes them put themselves last.
We have to be wives, mothers, daughters, friends, employees, and everything in between. It’s hard to maintain a level head when we have to do it all.
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Be “soft” for him.
“From some dumb Clergy:
‘Men need a soft place to land. Women are their respite from a harsh world. Offer a smile, soothing supportive words. Be a vessel for his comfort.’
It took everything in me not to roll my eyes, at his stupid [expletive], in front of his face. I did roll them as soon as he walked away,” said Kemokiro .
The whole “obey” thing.
Chay_Charles said they hate the part of marriage vows where women have to say they will “obey” their husbands. She says obey means that they are submissive to their man and that they have to do whatever they say, at all times.
They’re not supposed to age.
SeasonPositive6771 said that even though she’s in her 40s now, in college, most of her friends were already using anti-aging products and serums. It’s pretty true that many women are marketed all these creams and lotions to get them to “age less.”
Being a single mom is somehow your fault.
Bkind0k said that if you have a child with a man, you should know that they won’t leave you—however, if they do, it’s somehow your fault. Being a single mom means you made “a mistake” or somehow did something wrong for them to walk away and leave.
Women are supposed to “do it all.”
CatEarthSociety said that men and women have different expectations. Her husband works 9 hours a day and that’s totally okay and allowed, and if he comes home and goes to sleep that’s fine. But, women are expected to work and then also have a social life and all the in-betweens.
Bounce right back after having a baby.
marijuanamama_ said that the worst thing is that employers expect women to bounce back after having a baby and come to work immediately after. Most of the time, it’s only 6-12 weeks of paid maternity leave and then it’s unpaid. So, women have to give up their job to raise their kids.
We’re supposed to read minds.
“That we are to be magic mind readers who know which men mean us harm and those who don’t. If we get assaulted, it was our fault for not protecting ourselves, but if we take precautions then it becomes a “NoT aLl MeN” situation and how we are all misandrists,” said sixninefortytwo .
“Women don’t poop.”
Impressive-Bench9223 said that they hate the expectation that women don’t poop, fart, burp, or do anything that’s pretty natural for the human body to do. For some reason, guys think it’s “gross” when women do anything like that. But, we are all humans and we do these things, get over it.
Women should be stick-thin.
saymoneyhoney said that men always want women to eat a lot and not be afraid to get “down and dirty” with pizza and wings, and “real food.” However, they also don’t want women to gain a pound and stay skinny and thin. Can’t have both.
Women’s bodies should “snap back” after giving birth.
“That women’s bodies should snap back after giving birth. Birth is f**king major, and it takes a toll similar to surgery, expecting the body to return to the same at all, let alone immediately, is a pretty big ask,” said thegoldilocks_zone .
Always needing to be ready.
inconsistentbagel shared that she hates the assumption that women should “always be ready for sex.” The idea that a woman is supposed to just please a man and that’s their only job is just way too much.
Women are supposed to be calm all the time.
KhalaiMakhloq said so many people expect women to be “cool, calm” and “collected” at all times. They want us to remain calm in situations even when we are pushed to the edge. It’s not fair to expect that we’re never going to blow up every once in a while.
Small feet or nothing.
“Women should have small feet. It’s in media (eg Cinderella had petite feet, her evil, horrible step-sisters had to cut off their toes and squish their big, ugly feet into the glass slipper) but it’s also in the shops. The number of times I’ve heard “oh I’m sorry it’s not available in your size” or just seen the options dwindle when the size increases is infuriating,” said wearitonyoursleeve .
Women do the majority of the work.
curiouspalette said that people always share the idea that “dual-income” and “dual job” households are ideal, but at the end of the day, the women are the ones who take over all of the “hard work” at home. Cooking, cleaning, etc., it’s all on the women.
You have to keep a man interested.
Kovu9897 said that when she was first cheated on in her teens, her aunt sat her down and said that it’s “a woman’s job to make sure our men are satisfied so they will never stray.” It is unfair to expect women to control a man’s desires all the time.
