Women Share The Struggles Of Life As A Woman, And It’s Not Pretty
Like James Brown so famously sang, "it's a man's world." That song may have come out in 1966, but it rings just as true today.
Ladies, we've come far, but we still have a long way to go. For now, we'll do our best as we continue to point out the daily struggles we have that men might not even notice.
How The Conversation Started
If it weren't obvious, the way you look isn't the only giveaway of what makes you a woman. From the way you're conditioned at a young age to the way you turn out as an adult, your tone, your behavior, your mentality, your standards, your expectations, your lifestyle...
Basically, anything can be a reflection of what you were taught based on your gender.
Walking Alone In The Dark
The reason this thread went viral probably has something to do with how relatable the first tweet is. No matter how safe the neighborhood, a woman grows up hearing that she shouldn't walk alone in the dark, so she's always prepared for the worst.
"What Would A Man Do?"
If we're going to be made to live in a man's world, it seems like the best strategy to succeed in it is to think like a man.
A man probably wouldn't be limited by the same restrictions, insecurities, and fears that women grow up with, so if you can channel their mentality, imagine what you can accomplish.
Being Asked To Chill And Smile More
It's so hard to be assertive as a woman. You're not only often dismissed, but many avoid it in fear of seeming too "bossy," "rude," or, worst of all, "intimidating."
So often, the focus shifts from the point we're trying to make to our demeanor. You can't always smile while making an argument.
Being Overly Apologetic
Often, we feel like we're walking on eggshells just due to the simple fact that we're women. We're afraid we'll upset someone, step on their toes, or be "too much" and consequently lose the "privileges" and freedoms we've worked hard for.
Achievements Are Measured By Gender
Did you know why J.K. Rowling only signed her Harry Potter novels with her initials? She didn't want people to judge her books based on the only fact that it was written by a woman. We shouldn't feel the need to prove ourselves more based on our gender.
Underestimating Ourselves
Often, we're our own worst enemies, and we're the ones who hold back our own potential by internalizing the insecurities and limitations projected unto us. If a man can do it, why can't you? We're all capable of learning and training.
Getting Out Of A Man's Path
The sidewalk police won't come and arrest you if you say "excuse me" and keep walking, making the men get out of the way for you every once in a while. It should be an act of courtesy and not the result of feeling like you have to move because he's a man.
Being The First In Line To Take Care Of Others
It's a great trait to be caring and to step up to take care of family when needed, but it shouldn't be taken as far as becoming an expectation that a woman will put her career second while the men keep on working.
Being The Chef In The Family
You should've seen the look on my grandma's face when she found out that I was entering my 20s and didn't know how to cook yet—how was I to be a good housewife without this skill?
Long story short, I am now a great cook, and while it's great for my lifestyle, I shouldn't know how to do it just for being a woman. Find you a man who can cook.
Being Excluded From Politics
Just because America has yet to see a woman president, that doesn't mean that it hasn't happened in other countries. Women are sadly still often labeled as "too emotional" and too confused by "their time of the month" to be trusted with political decisions and positions of power and authority.
Everything About The Fashion Industry
All you have to do is walk into a M·A·C cosmetics store to be told by one of the employees that only certain women can pull of warm red shades while others require "cool" shades to match their skin tone and not look "washed out" to understand what's wrong with the fashion industry.
Being The Present Parent
How come no one is asking who is taking care of the kids when the husband's out of town? Oh wait, that's because everyone expects the mother to be there to do it.
Women are just as deserving and entitled to travel, explore, and grow in their careers as their husbands are. Just take turns instead of having only one of you have all the fun.
"Ladylike" Etiquette
All it takes is riding public transportation and squeezing into a two-seater beside a man who has his legs widely spread out for you to take a moment and think, "Why can't you share the seats equally?"
Being In An Elevator Alone With A Man
Odds are nothing is going to happen, but just the possibility of the risk is enough to trigger the anxiety because it's happened to someone's sister, daughter, neighbor, or friend so many times before.
How do you guarantee you won't be next once the doors close?
Being The Woman Who Does It All
The role of a woman extends into so many sub-roles and expectations. She needs to be a good wife, a good mother, a good chef, a good maid, a good driver, and by the end of it, she has no energy left and is the last one to enjoy the fruits of her labor.
Marriage Above All Else
Even though the modern woman is no longer passed on from her father's care to her husband's, there is still so much pressure for her to eventually settle down with a man who will "support her" and "take care of her" and with whom she can start a family.
While that's a happy ending for some women, it's not the path that everyone wants or should be limited to.
The Assumption That Not Wanting Kids Is Just A Phase
When a woman says she actually purposely doesn't envision wanting kids in her future, she usually gets dismissed and told that she'll know when the time is right.
As if her only mission in life is to procreate, she'll be told that once she settles down and gets it out of her system, her biological clock will kick in.
Men Not Taking No For Answer
How many women have had to tell a man at the bar that they have a boyfriend just to get him to back off because he wouldn't take "no" for an answer?
Just accept the rejection and move on. We shouldn't feel the need to threaten them with the presence of another man to get them to respect our wishes.
Blaming "That Time Of The Month"
Nothing is more aggravating than showing a bit of emotion and being not-so-subtly asked if it's because we're on our time of the month.
Is a woman not allowed to have bad days, cry, be angry, or show any "negative" emotion without it being blamed on biology?
