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"Age, Past 35": 46 Things That Are Normal For Men But Taboo When Women Do Them

"Age, Past 35": 46 Things That Are Normal For Men But Taboo When Women Do Them

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Depending on whether you're a man or a woman, the way you walk through this life can be wildly different. In 2017, Pew asked Americans what qualities they value most in men and in women.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, most respondents said that physical attractiveness, being nurturing, and being empathetic are the top traits for women. For men, the top three are honesty, morality, and professional success.
It seems like we all still have a long way to go when it comes to traditional gender roles. For instance, there are a lot of things men think women might never understand about being a man.
But this time, we're shining a light on the things that are deemed normal when men do it, but somehow weird if a woman does it. We've found the most interesting answers from folks in the thread where one netizen asked: " What are men allowed to do but when women do it it's a big no-no?" and present them to you here!

#1

Woman with curly hair and red lipstick looking concerned, illustrating things women are not allowed to do freely.
Have five kids across three spouses, cheat notoriously, pay [adult workers], defend sexual [attack], while being bankrolled by a guy with 14 kids with 6 women, mostly out of wedlock.
52points

#2

Stressed woman working on laptop while holding child, highlighting challenges women face in work-life balance and freedoms.
Leave most of the parenting to the other partner.
49points

#3

Young woman in a gray hoodie and jeans adjusting her sleeve, illustrating things women are not allowed to do that men can do freely.
Have pockets large enough to hold things.
44points

#4

Doctor consulting a pregnant woman in a medical room with ultrasound equipment, highlighting things women are not allowed to do.
Make choices about their reproductive health.
43points

#5

Female doctor consulting woman at office desk, highlighting differences in things women are not allowed to do versus men.
Enjoy bodily autonomy.
43points

#6

A woman walking alone in an empty industrial street at night, highlighting things women are not allowed to do.
Walk alone at night.
40points

#7

Woman expressing frustration during a conversation, illustrating challenges women face compared to men freely.
Show anger. Men get respect, women get called emotional.
39points

#8

A man walking barefoot on a wooden path through trees, illustrating things women are not allowed to do that men can.
Be topless.
31points

#9

Woman organizing planning and calendar sheets on a white wall, illustrating challenges women face compared to men freely.
Opt out of participating in family function planning scheduling. A husband/man can just not participate and no one bats an eye. But if the in laws reach out to organize Thanksgiving/Christmas/summer/family traditions and she doesn’t respond or jump into happily planning she is a “[jerk] that is trying to steal our son/brother/friend”.

And her parents wouldn’t reach out to him to expect him to plan. She gets the privilege of doing both sides of the family.
31points

#10

Woman sorting clothes in a sunlit room, surrounded by garments, highlighting things women are not allowed to do freely.
Not know how to do basic life skills. 

If a man doesn’t know how to clean, cook, do laundry etc women are expected to do it for them and/or their mothers are blamed for not teaching it

Women are just not allowed to not know. If they don’t know they have to figure it out.
31points

#11

Young woman holding a vintage camera outdoors, reflecting on things women are not allowed to do compared to men freely.
Not smiling.
30points

#12

Young woman enjoying a meal outdoors, illustrating social moments related to things women are not allowed to do freely.
Eat big portions. Men are "hungry," women are "unladylike.".
28points

#13

Woman sitting on outdoor steps looking upset while a man walks away, illustrating gender inequality themes.
Abandon their child. I say this laying on a hospital couch next to my sleeping wife after she just gave birth to our daughter.

Single moms pick up the slack all the time and the farther is just considered a dead beat. If a mother abandoned the family, she is considered vile and heartless.
26points

#14

Woman holding tablet wearing a pink blazer, representing topics about things women are not allowed to do versus men freely.
Have hair everywhere but their head.
25points

#15

Young woman wearing a party hat holding a birthday cake, reflecting on gender role differences women are not allowed to do.
Age, past 35.
25points

#16

Woman shaving leg with pink razor, highlighting things women are not allowed to do that men can do freely.
Have hair on your legs or armpits. Not wanting to be alone with your own kids. Not doing a single chore on days they have to work. Not wearing makeup to important events. Watching something on their phone at events they don't want to be at. Not being ready for kids until their 30s or 40s (even though s***m quality decreases with age).
22points

#17

Woman and man in an office discussing documents and data, illustrating things women are not allowed to do that men can do freely.
Speak up for ourselves in the workplace.

When men do it, they're being confident and decisive and fill in the blank with a positive term.

When women do it, we are being b*tches or, my favorite expression -- we *have a tone*. No man on this earth has ever been told in the workplace that he *has a tone*.
22points

#18

A man carrying a crying child outdoors, illustrating differences in things women are not allowed to do that men can.
Not know how to handle their children. This peeves me. How is it women get slated for not being able to handle a tantrum or children’s behaviour but for men it’s just cute….
19points

#19

Woman standing confidently behind a podium with the American flag, highlighting gender role challenges women face.
Be president.
18points

#20

Three professional women working together at a desk, highlighting gender roles and things women are not allowed to do compared to men.
Have equal representation in government in the US.

Be president in the US.

Have strong opinions. When men do this, it's normal. When women do this, they are a [jerk], a ball buster, a shrew, etc.

Control what happens to her own body. Make her own reproductive choices. No one tells a man what to do with his testicles. But everyone seems to want to tell a woman what to do with her uterus.

Have lots of [intercourse] with different people. When men do this they are seen as studs and are applauded. When women do this, they are labeled as sluts and denigrated.
18points
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