There is a major push for equality across the board these days (which is great) but there are some things about men and women that will never be equal.
Some things are harder for men and some things are harder for women.
That’s just the way it is, but it’s also important to acknowledge these differences.
Men took to AskReddit to talk about what they think is harder for women. Here’s what they had to say.
1. Catcalls.
“Getting catcalled.
Specifically, I’m a guy that got catcalled A LOT in high school and college. I ran distance in tiny short shorts and that’s it, and got everything from whistles to honks, girls blowing kisses to guys yelling out of their car windows, to gay guys slapping my a** or complimenting me.
I took it in stride, none if it ever bothered me, and that kind of colored my opinion of catcalling – not that I approved of it, but that it wasn’t that big a deal.
Then I had a girlfriend in college, and she got catcalled while I was walking her home at night. It was a DISTINCTLY different experience. Turns out I never once felt threatened by my catcallers, but hers were definitely scary and threatening.
It was a completely different experience, and really sh**ty and frightening.”
2. A couple things.
“First of all, periods. Hats off to you all for handing them.
Next, being forced to be aware of your surroundings anywhere you go. Like you always have a fear of a bad encounter. And finally, not being acknowledged while being out with a man. Many times I went to restaurants or shopping with someone, everyone always comes up to me instead of my date.
One time during shopping for PC parts, I had to state that she wants to buy something. Not I after many times of telling the salesman to ask her.”
3. Hair.
“A relatively minor thing that I haven’t seen yet is hair. Body hair of any kind is often something women are expected to minimize/remove completely.
Also, long hair is a b**ch to take care of and manage, as I’ve come to realize by letting my hair grow past my shoulders during the pandemic.”
4. Accepted and respected.
“I guess being accepted or respected in a job that is mostly associated with men.
Like, I’m gonna act as prime example: If I call a Plumber, I – for whatever reason – expect a man to come. And I’d be pretty surprised if a woman showed up. Not that I want a man to come, its just that in my head plumbers are male.
I have no idea where this idea comes from, and it actually seriously bothers me that it is like this.
I guess there are a lot of people with this issue out there, and I guess (the following does not apply to me) a few of those people might be concerned that she might not do as good of a job as he would.”
5. Unwanted messages.
“Pretty girls getting sent creepy DMs.
My sister JUST turned 13 years old, and is a good looking girl. Countless times has she showed me messages on Snapchat between her, and some dudes 4-inch pe**s.
Disgusting.”
6. A new perspective.
“As a man I thought it must be great to be able to have s** with so many people.
I thought it was good that a woman could count on a one night stand at the bar, As I got older I realized that woman also have to walk through a world were where a lot of men want to f**k them and many men don’t care how they get there. Lying, getting women drunk or drugging them or flat out r**e.
Men they may know or complete strangers or even close relatives. That must be far harder than having to impress a woman to have consensual s**.”
7. This, too.
“Finding clothes with pockets.
I’ve only recently been made aware that women’s trousers (pants) don’t usually come with pockets that are actually deep enough to keep anything in there.
Fashion is weird.”
8. A different culture.
“As an Indian man, literally their entire lives.
Arranged marriage is a part of culture. Its hit or miss. Sometimes its literally a nightmare if she ends up with a d**chebag. Super defined gender roles everywhere. Divorced women are essentially 2nd rate citizens here.
And there is ZERO s** education. Female org**ms are a myth.”
9. Not as safe.
“Feeling safe in general.
Whether it be outside after a certain your, parties, going to dates with someone new, etc etc. From the stories I hear from friends and acquaintances, it’s pretty scary sometimes.
Also less impactful, but gaming. When a girl is gaming it’s always dudes telling her that she’s a “pick me” girl, that she only plays Minecraft, that she doesn’t know s**t, etc etc. Just them being disrespectful and annoying sh**s.”
10. Not taken seriously.
“Being taken seriously in successful positions.
Being a women on a board, must be filling a diversity quota.
First women to do x, who cares a man did it ages ago.
And I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure I read somewhere that women score less in trust in political poles because to get there they must have been sneaky or a man eater or some s**t.
All bulls**t.”
11. All of this.
“Where do I start?
Childbirth. Everything I see or hear about it is just unpleasant and painful
The body-clock and pressure to have children, especially in your thirties.
S**ism and bias in the workplace. Yep, it’s still there in many forms and I really disappoints me that it is.
Online communities and the comments/messages. What the f**k, guys?!?
Being heard. How often do you see or hear women being talked over?
So much more. I feel so much for the women in my life (my wife, my mum, my friends) and what they have to deal with. If I have a daughter, I’ll be scared for what she’ll face.”
12. A big one.
“Birth control.
My girlfriend is on an implant and it makes her period VERY irregular and so she can bleed intermittently with no warning so she’ll just go to the toilet one day and be bleeding. No prediction of when it will happen. Just “hey you’re bleeding now. How long for? WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO KNOW?”. JUST so we don’t have kids we’re not ready for.
I’m happy to wear a condom but it’s not as safe as using something like the implant or a IUD in terms of family planning. She had to get that s**t inserted into her arm with general anesthetic like a bada**. And one type of birth control doesn’t work for everyone. I’ve heard my friends talking about how they have to take the pill at the same time every day. I can’t even remember to have breakfast most days. I’ve heard you can get injections that last 3 months and can mess with your mood even on anti depressants.
And some women I know will be on birth control because their boyfriend wants it raw. The lengths they go through is ridiculous.”
What do YOU think is harder for women than it is for men?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
We’d love to hear from you!
