Despite us existing in the 21st century for quite some time now, there are still a number of actions that really all of us do, but that are only “normal” for members of one gender. Someone asked “what’s something that both genders do, but is only socially accepted when one gender does it?” and people share their best examples.
From crying in public, to just existing without a shirt, be sure to upvote your favorites and get comfortable as you scroll through. If you have some examples of your own that weren’t listed here, feel free to list them in the comments section below.
#1
Forget public, I cried very briefly in front of an older woman in my family last year while discussing my concerns for the safety of some children in my family I care about, and recently found out she and other women in my family labeled me as “emotionally unstable” because of it and had discussed my crying as if I had lost my mind.
Ladies, if a man cries in front of you, it does not mean he is crazy or unstable. Sometimes things are just sad.
161points
#2
Smiling at children. I'm a Dad, if a baby smiles at me I'll automatically smile back, and then inevitably get a glare from the parent because they think I'm some kind of creep (no, I just miss having small children!). My wife does it, it usually leads to a conversation about their children.
105points
#3
In a non-sexual way, loving children. Women can always say out loud how much they love children and being around children. A guy does it and it's time to grill him about what he means.
I saw a comedian (I think Phil Hanley...) doing some crowd work and asked this woman what she did. "I'm a teacher." "Oh, cool. What grade/age?" "Middle school. I like them younger." "Nice. You know, a guy could never say that. There would be some serious issues with that.".
81points
#4
Crying in public. Women are seen as emotional while men are seen as weak. But let's be real, we all need a good cry sometimes.
74points
#6
Making jokes about domestic violence.
If a girl says "If you cheat on me, I'll do x and y with your genitals", it's often laughed at and applauded, while if the reverse was said, the guy would be criminalized.
69points
#7
Sleeping around women are typically shamed for it but men are seen as lads for it.
67points
#8
Age! Men can age and still be desirable but a woman needs to try everything she can to stay looking 20 yrs. old. Which is impossible by the way.
67points
#10
>Being angry/screaming
When a man gets angry, people assume that someone has wronged him.
When a woman gets angry, people call her hysterical.
>Being sad/crying
When a woman cries, people sympathise with her.
When a man cries, he is treated as a weirdo or a wimp.
56points
#11
Be a full time parent.
It's normal for women, but when men do it, they're either "babysitting" their own kids, emasculated for not being "real men" and "providers" or given the side eye and lots of distance at the playground from the clique of SAHMs who are all there with their kids as well.
52points
#13
If a women tells a 5 year old boy about handsome he is and of course jokingly calls him her boyfriend it’s looked at as cute/funny but reverse it to a grown man and 5 year old girl he’s a predator. Someone else pointed this out and I had to agree.
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49points
#14
Battering the opposite gender. Y’all may say “nuh-uh” but it’s true. Women can casually slap, push, punch, elbow a man especially their partner and nothing happens. Let’s say the man cheats, and the woman with tears in her eyes slaps him in the face and walks away. Maybe sometimes consequences are faced, but more often than if the roles were reversed that woman just battered a man and gets off Scott free.
46points
#15
Use sex toys. Perfectly acceptable, or even considered hot/sexy for a woman. If a guy uses a sex toy: he's considered weird or creepy.
39points
#16
Take off their shirt/top when they're working outside on a hot day. Men do it all the time, but when a girl does it, it's indecent exposure.
Also, breaking up by text. This is something that society thinks only women do, even though I have seen female friends get dumped by text. It's still a d**k move no matter who does it but it's so stereotypically women who are guilty of this. The actual split is probably pretty close to 50/50.
39points
#17
**Playing with toys.** Some toys are marketed towards one gender or the other, but there's no reason why anyone can't enjoy any kind of toy.
39points
#18
Choosing career over marrying - God forbid a woman wants to be left alone with her money.
Being affectionate with friends - Men should be able to do this without fear of being labelled as weak every 5 minutes
Promiscuity - I dont think it's good practice, but I mean it for both gender not just women
Not knowing any household chores - It's a life skill, not a gendered one yet women tend to be on the harsher side of the stick
Being financially dependent - Same with household chores except men to be on the harsher side this time.
38points
#19
Office settings in my experience - middle aged women seem to get away with borderline, if-not-outright sexual harassment of younger colleagues.
33points
#20
Men can't wear women's clothes, meanwhile in reverse it's totally okay.
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32points