Women Are Sharing The 'Men's Issues' They Also Struggle With In Their Day-To-Day Lives, And I Guess We Just Can't Win Either Way
Over the past few years, there's been much more of a public focus on men's mental health, which is awesome. But perhaps the mental health crisis shouldn't be talked about through a gendered lens at all; because, as a lot of women are pointing out, a LOT of women deal with these "men's issues," too.
So, here's what people had to say. Their comments range from serious to funny, but are consistently pretty interesting:
Related:
1."Being unable to talk about feelings or acting like everything's fine when you're really not fine."
"I feel like I always see stuff about how men bottle everything up and act fine until it's too late. I've always done this and it's been a, 'Wow, we had no idea!' sorta thing, like it is with men. I rarely see any posts of the sort about women being unable to communicate about mental health issues."
—u/fuckimtrash
2."The stress of being a provider. I've never known a man who stayed around, and have been picking up the slack and providing for my family since I was a literal child. Now I'm working 60+ hour weeks and apparently inheriting my aging divorced parents."
Pop TV / CBC Television
"I'd love to have a partner to help take some of the pressure off. But for now, I'm just keeping my head down and trying to get through it. I have some friends who are working full time, single moms, and keeping the house together. I don't know why men think this issue only applies to them."
—u/cambiokeys
3."Loneliness (as in a general lack of connections), no compliments from people (not just the opposite sex), emotional expression is heavily discouraged, can't talk about struggles, and a general lack of support, and pressure to make decent money. There really isn't much that guys complain about that I don't also struggle with."
—u/ayuxx
4."Always wanting more sex."
ABC
—u/briivis
"Yesssss. Men want to act like they've got the higher drives, but it has ALWAYS been my experience with male partners that they're the first ones to give up effort when it comes to that."
—u/zoloftandcoffee3
5."Loneliness. I can't even watch 'sisterhood best friend' films without just crying the entire time."
Paramount Pictures / Via youtube.com
—u/-aquapixie-
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6."Feeling pressure to always 'be strong' and not show weakness. Even when I'm struggling, I act fine, like I gotta hold it all together no matter what."
—u/CheapSandi
7."I think it's hilarious whenever men talk about how women 'can get laid whenever they want.' Like, yeah, if I eliminated all my standards and stopped caring about my health and safety, then maybe that would be true. But when it comes to decent sex with people I'm actually attracted to, that is pretty rare and difficult to find."
—u/celestialism
8."Facial hair growth, and working 60-hour weeks."
—u/basic-fatale
9."Porn addiction."
—u/Naive-Mouse-5462
Related:
10."Being able to negotiate and stand up for yourself in public or business. Men are bullied if they can't do this, but it's a double standard for women: we're not expected to do it at all, but suffer if we can't."
—u/butfuxkinjar
11."Burping."
E! / Peacock
—u/animated_tourist
12."Farting."
—u/777npc
13."I have gout. It's uncommon in women and it's even uncommon for my age (28). I just drew a short straw in a genetic sense. My dad had it, and both his parents had flares."
"It's like having fiberglass in between your joints. I've had male doctors think I'm lying or not telling them the right condition until they see my uric acid levels, and then they're shocked."
—u/InsidetheC-18locker
14."All of them, it's not exclusive, especially mental health. I don't have people to talk to. I will still be judged just as much if I show my emotions."
Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Releasing
—u/Upstairs_Meringue_18
15."My menopausal mustache."
The CW / Via giphy.com
—u/alreadylateforsupper
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16."Being single, and not entirely by choice, as well as lacking friends. I also have SzPD, which is apparently more common in men."
—u/Sarmilo
17."I'm really trying to max out my shoulder press by doing progressive ladders, but I always get stuck at 50 lbs even with a spotter."
—u/JadeBlueAfterBurn
18."Communicating. I feel like women are stereotyped as always wanting to talk about feelings and having to strong-arm their boyfriends into opening up, but in relationships, I would rather never open up and just be mad, sad, and happy on my own."
CBS / Via giphy.com
—u/Redhotangelxxx
19."Men going on about how hard it is to get dates and how easy dating is for women when I was in my 30s before I went on my first actual date, and I did all the asking and organizing of the date just so I could finally say I'd been on one."
–u/wwaxwork
20.And finally: "Excessive body hair and the fact that I sweat like a pig."
NBC / Via giphy.com
—u/Useful-Fish8194
So, what'd you think? Tell me in the comments, and feel free to share your own anecdotes, too. This is a safe space. Or, if you want to write in but prefer to stay anonymous, you can check out this anonymous form.
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