Navigating daily life, men and women often experience the world in distinctly different ways. There are many activities and experiences that are commonplace for women, yet might seem completely alien to men. This disparity can lead to intriguing conversations and sometimes even misunderstandings.
Here we explore the top things that are normal for women but might be unfathomable to men. We’ve put together a list of these things by talking to different people, watching how they act in public, and checking out cultural trends. This list aims to highlight these differences in a fun and informative way. Join us as we explore what’s typical for women but might surprise men.
Social Bonding
Women form close friendships while bonding over shared experiences, emotions, and interests. It is important for women to have female companions who can relate to their experiences. In contrast, a study by the Centre for Male Psychology claims men are trained in action empathy. They feel more comfortable participating in activities with other men than forming deep connections. So, women’s deep bond might seem excessive to men compared to their casual friendship.
Body Image Pressure
Women face immense pressure to conform to societal beauty standards. This leads to body insecurities and behaviors like crash dieting. A study by Now Foundation shows about 78% of 17-year-old girls feel unhappy with their bodies. Conditions like eating disorders are also more prevalent in women than men. Many men find this body image concerns surprising as they do not face the same level of scrutiny.
Open Communication
Women usually communicate openly and use expressive language to connect emotionally. A study by Pamela Smith and her colleagues highlights the differences in men’s and women’s interpersonal communications. Per their research, men prefer more abstract language to reflect power and leadership.
Societal norms dictate men to be reserved about their reality, leading to a lack of transparent communication skills. This difference makes them sometimes find women’s level of open and emotional communication hard to understand.
Emotional Quotient and Empathy
Dr. Ronald Levant’s concept of “Normative Male Alexithymia” suggests that men often struggle to express and recognize emotions. This is due to societal norms that often dictate that men should suppress their feelings. The act of being vulnerable, and discussing emotions can be seen as a threat to the traditional definition of masculinity.
A survey with 5,000 participants found that women are generally better at recognizing subtle emotional cues. Men might find this emotional perceptiveness and empathy of women hard to grasp.
Juggling Responsibilities
Women excel at multitasking and balancing multiple responsibilities. They often have to manage household chores, careers, and family commitments all at once. This is not a biological skill that women have but rather a skill that women have to master due to social pressure. Most domestic tasks are still seen as women’s work. Some men may find the extent of women’s daily responsibilities surprising as they often don’t share the same burdens.
Anxiety of Safety
Women are often more vigilant about personal safety due to higher vulnerability to harassment and violence. According to a statistical survey in 2018, almost 36% of American women frequently worry about sexual harassment, compared to only 4% of men . This anxiety forces women to take precautions like avoiding certain areas or learning self-defense. Many men might not realize the extent of safety worries women face daily.
Navigating Gender Bias
Women encounter gender bias and discrimination in various aspects of life. They must navigate stereotypes and systemic barriers in private and public spaces. A Pew Research Center study shows the gender disparity in wages has barely improved in the United States in the past 20 years. In 2022, women earned only 82% of what men did. Most men are unable to comprehend this because of their gender privilege.
Caregiving
Women often take on primary childcare and caregiving roles out of societal dictions. The pressure of abiding by womanly duties constantly adds to women’s stress. Even in professional caregiving roles, people prefer women, fueling the stereotype of women’s nurturing nature. Due to traditional gender roles, men may be less experienced and comfortable with caregiving responsibilities.
Menstruation and Sexual Health
Women navigate the challenges of menstruation and reproductive health. They often have to deal with physical discomfort and societal taboos. The mini TV series Unorthodox beautifully depicted the taboos associated with menstruation and the reproductive health of women. Men lack firsthand experience in these areas and often remain uninformed due to societal silence on these topics.
Pregnancy and Motherhood
Due to their lack of experiential knowledge, men often can not fully grasp the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood. They may not appreciate the physical and emotional demands placed on pregnant women. Additionally, societal expectations constantly place greater emphasis on women’s roles in childcare. This leads to limited awareness and empathy from men. The natural act of breastfeeding is often stigmatized in the country because of the unwarranted male gaze. The anxiety of a breastfeeding mother is non-comprehensible for most men.