People Share The Reasons They Sympathize With The Opposite Sex

People Share The Reasons They Sympathize With The Opposite Sex
Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

If you're a human being with friends of the opposite sex, then you've no doubt borne witness to at least one instance that made you aware of the double standards men and women live under.

Men are expected to head out there and grab the world by the balls, so to speak. If a woman does the same, though, watch out. Her daring is enough to malign her forever.

That's just one example, but it's enough to make you sigh and feel some empathy, right?

While some responses were more humorous than others, people shared their thoughts after Redditor Outrageous-Caller-09 asked the online community:

"What do you sympathize with the opposite sex for?"

"I just can't..."

"I just can't imagine not having pockets, I'm sorry!"

Ooga12359

Whenever I meet a woman who is wearing an outfit that has pockets, she is understandably OVERJOYED.

"I feel sympathy..."

"I feel sympathy with them for their baldness and/or receding hairlines."

worstbreakever

This is all too common – of all the medical breakthroughs out there, you'd think we'd have found a baldness cure by now.

"My boyfriend said..."

"Unwanted public boners. My boyfriend said that during puberty a slight breeze could set it off and it was a very awkward and uncomfortable phase."

krim-bus

Am a dude. Can confirm that this was a VERY awkward and uncomfortable phase.

"Periods."

"Periods. They must suck big time."

CowBizzel

Of this I have no doubt. For every woman who is fortunate not to have cramps or other period-related issues, there are countless women who do.

"All the pain..."

"All the pain you have to go through, periods, childbirth. Gyne exams must be awful. Menopause must be awful."

twithdeltablues

I certainly don't envy women for all of this. I grew up with a single mother and felt like I had a front row seat to all of her discomfort.

"I sympathize..."

"I sympathize that men are expected to be the pursuers and ask the woman out. What if he’s shy?"

binglebell

This is a good point. The pressure can be debilitating!

"As a man..."

"As a man I feel bad for the amount of creepy people a woman might encounter online the moment someone learns their gender."

LeaphyDragon

Online harassment is a very real and serious problem. Many women are bullied offline because of it.

"Male rape victims..."

"Male rape victims not being taken seriously simply because they're men."

Unique-kitten

This isn't to say that women have it "easier" – countless sexual assault and rape cases go unprosecuted year after year – but societal expectations for men are such that they run the risk of being mocked or even laughed it, derided as weak should they come forward.

"Walking around..."

"Walking around with a set of dick and balls sticking out of your body."

Klutzy-Barnacle7298

Hey, hey! It doesn't help that they're so sensitive either. We didn't ask for this, you know!

"Dealing with..."

"Dealing with creeps and guys who can't take NO for an answer."

SASHTv

Rejecting someone's advances can be scary... even dangerous. Women never know how men will react.

Men, ask the women in your life about the experiences – you might learn something new.

And women, don't be afraid to ask the men in your life any questions either. You might come away more enlightened.

Have some observations of your own? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
empathy

People Share Their All-Time Favorite TV Sitcom Couples

Silhouette of a couple kissing
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Among the many reasons people watch, and rewatch, sitcoms is to imagine your life was more like the one you were watching.

Being able to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Greenwich Village on a line cook's salary, somehow always having the comfortable sofa available at your favorite coffee shop whenever you pop in, or having your best friends always available at your beck and call whenever you need them.

For the romantics, however, it's wishing you could have a romance like you've seen on television.

True not all sitcom romances are exactly the sort that makes you go all aflutter (Were Ross and Rachel actually on a break? And don't even get me started about Ted and Robin.)

Other sitcom couples are so captivating, though, that we would have given anything to be at their wedding... or at the very least go to their home for dinner every Friday.

And this includes plutonic couples, as there is nothing more heartwarming than a lasting friendship.

Keep reading...Show less
sitcoms

People Divulge Their Biggest 'I F**ked Up' Experiences

a woman with her hands on her face
Photo by Kier in Sight on Unsplash

As an editor, I am not just in charge of proofreading and correcting style and format. I am also in charge of making sure all the contact information provided, such as phone numbers and emails, work.

After working for 10 hours straight a few months ago, I forgot to check the phone numbers and let a brochure go to publication with a phone number that did not work.

Luckily, a similar mistake had actually happened before with another editor for another client a year prior, so contact info on print materials like this brochure were checked by every department rather than just editorial, and the mistake was caught.

Since I didn't know this, when I heard the phone number was wrong, my heart dropped to my stomach and I thought I was sure fired. Luckily, I was just told to make sure this never happens again. I was relived that there was no fallout, but when I first heard what happened, my only thought was. 'I totally f**ked up!'

Redditors are no strangers to this feeling, as they've made egregious mistakes themselves. They are only too eager to share their experiences.

Keep reading...Show less
mistakes

People Break Down The Absolute Biggest Ways To Waste Your Money

A black and white photo of a seemingly distressed man holding a stack of 20s to his forehead
Travis Essinger on Unsplash

With the world's finances the way they are, it's a miracle if people can save their spare change.

Inflation has a stronghold on too many people.

Sometimes it feels like just breathing can cost you money.

It's hard to make and absurdly easy to lose.

So be vigilant with your wallet.

And try to spend on certain things in moderation.

Going out for meals three times a day adds up.

Even with Wendy's value menu.

Keep reading...Show less
money

People Debate Their All-Time Favorite Pasta Shapes

Freshly cooked rotini pasta noodles
Photo by Bozhin Karaivanov on Unsplash

We all have strong opinions about something, but when we think of opinions, we often think of hot button topics like political subjects.

But as it turns out, sometimes we can have just as strong of opinions of our preferred types of pasta.

Keep reading...Show less
favorite food