There are a lot of stereotypes about what it means to be a man or a woman that aren’t doing anyone any good. Sexism hurts all of us, even if misogyny causes more fundamental issues for women and non-binary people, or basically anyone who isn’t a cis man. Man myths hurt men too. There are just too many institutional structures still in place to support patriarchy. A lot of activists and everyday people (including some of those cis men) have been working hard to dismantle them.
Apparently, dudes really feel like they’re left out of the conversation. Redditor u/Mr-StealYourMan asked r/AskReddit a question that turned into a real conversation starter. They wrote, “Men of Reddit, what’s a myth about men that’s 100% untrue and it infuriates you whenever you hear it?”
There are thousands and thousands of responses, in which guys express how often they feel misunderstood, pigeon-holed, and even abused. They also made lots of goofy jokes. Pretty much the usual melange of Reddit, comments, actually. Scroll through and see if you recognize your own thoughts in any of these myths. The better we understand each other, the better the world! And the better the Super Bowl commercials.
1. The bathroom is more boring than you think
If we take long in the bathroom, we are not always jacking off, sometimes we’re just enjoying a long shower or browsing memes. —Zentox_
2. Kelis lied
I have never felt compelled to trespass onto someones property due to the presence of milkshakes.
Edit: Cold ones are better than yours. —Safebiscuit99
3. It’s his big day, too!
I get married in two months after being engaged a year.. and I can’t tell you how many people have told me that the wedding is for my fiance, or that she can do it because it’s about her, or to not worry about decorations, food, DJ, ceremony, wedding guests, cocktails, etc.. it’s my big day as well. Letting her choose everything and expecting that feels sexist and as if I would be setting our relationship up for bias and failure. —FirstBornPlebe
4. Sometimes, a hello is just a hello
Men only talk to women because they want something from them, this happened to me a lot in middle school and the beginning of high school because I had a lot of female friends. I’m not girl crazy, it’s just not hard for me to make friends with both guys and girls —KolarBeear
5. Big Mop is manipulating us all
How Men Are on Commercials.
How we can’t do laundry, cook, raise kids, or anything without our wives coming to show us how.
Look, assholes, I’m single and I do all my own cleaning, laundry, dishes, etc. I have never stared at a mop like it was a plasma death ray, nor have I ever had to rush out to buy dinner because I burned mine (well, a few times when drunk, but that’s not the same thing).
I also am capable of taking care of a baby without having to call a woman to give me directions. (I don’t have kids, but I have younger cousins and what not. I can change a diaper and bottle feed just fine). —Kiyohara
6. Body Positivity 4 All
That men don’t have self image issues. You only get to hear about body positivity when it’s about womens bodies. —lewdel00
7. Mulan could barely do this
That we must be swift as the coursing river, have the force of a great typhoon, possess the strength of a raging fire, and be as mysterious as the dark side of the moon. —NSA_Chatbot
8. Locker room talk is not a thing
I have personally never talked to a guy friend about how their girlfriends are in bed, or really anything about their sex lives.
Follow up: I have reviewed the comments, thank you for your replies. If there is one thing I can stress to the people who do desire to engage in sex gossip make sure you secure permission from your signifigant other first; and that applies to all genders. You may be unwittingly hurting your partner’s feelings. —Adjectives_Abound
9. You can say hi, too!
Men have to make the first move.” This is in the context of relationships, not sex.
I. hate. this. —wgkb5u
10. Tell him he’s pretty
That they don’t need compliments. I hate it when I do it to my male friends and some other acquaintance will overhear and tease me for it. But when I do it to a female friend, nobody gives shit. I believe that guys deserve to be complimented sincerely once in a while, like everybody else. —uera