As Amy Schumer once said, “I am a woman with thoughts and questions and shit to say.” Women have many thoughts on what it means to be a female especially in today’s society. We are tired of the stereotypes and many other things that we have to deal with. We surveyed women at UConn to hear their thoughts on all things female.
Periods
“When you’re legitimately angry or annoyed but it’s written off by men as you being on your period.”
“TAMPON TAX.”
“Either pooping too much or not pooping at all when you’re on your period.”
“Having all the women’s products in some obscure aisle of CVS.”
“The underestimation of cramp pain.”
The Cost of Being a Girl
“The cost of hair removal.”
“WHY DO WE HAVE TO PAY [for tampons]?”
“Women’s ‘versions’ of products always cost more than the men’s do… I don’t care if my razor is pink, save me $3!”
“I literally buy men’s clothes as often as I can because they are so much cheaper.”
“The cost of bras is too damn high.”
Boobs & Bras
“Oh you saw my bra strap? Good it cost me $50 dollars!”
“Boobs: If you hide them you get told to show them off, if you show them off you get told to hide them. They go through scrutiny no matter what their shape and size. People say bras are good and then turn around and say now they’re bad for you. We get told, ‘That top shows way too much you can’t wear that,’ or, ‘Oh, that doesn’t show anything, wear something that flaunts what you got.’”
“When the underwire on your bra breaks and stabs you in the boob. THE. WORST.”
“My bra literally unhooks itself when I walk around, like calm down.”
“Holding your boobs when you go down the stairs.”
“I love the freedom of not wearing a bra, but hate the self-consciousness that comes with that if you’re uncomfortable with your boob shape/size. Sorry to tell you but those perfectly round things in cartoons are not real, thank you.”
“Boob sweat is the actual worst.”
“I love that I can use my bra like a pocket. Phone, credit card, keys, it all goes in there sometimes.”
Sex
“Men who have no idea how to have sex with you. And then you lay there dissatisfied and they have the nerve to ask you what your major is or something as equally stupid.”
“I feel like women are so much more self-conscious about pleasing a man they’re hooking up with than a guy is with pleasing a woman because there’s a horrible double standard with gender and casual sex.”
“When men ask you ‘Are you good?’ and you weren’t even f***ing close.”
“Everything you do is sexual. God forbid I want a popsicle.”
“People need to realize women are also horny, not just dudes.”
“Girls, do yourself a favor and learn how to pleasure yourself. Whether that’s with your own hands or if you want to use a vibrator, do not be ashamed of your sexuality.”
Men
“Why do guy friends always feel the need to make sexual jokes about you? But you know the minute you fire one back, they’d probably cry or never talk to you again.”
“Literally wanting to wear a sign on myself that says “@men none of this is/was/ever will be for you.”
“Honestly, I love having guy friends. They balance me out when I need it, but trust me, my female friendships will always be just as important.”
Clothes
“Heels.”
“Being criticized for wearing yoga pants for any reason; for being too “big” to wear them, because they’re not pants, because they aren’t appropriate, etc. It’s stupid and sexist. I’m covered and they’re comfy, lay off.”
“When stores assume you wear ugly stuff which is literally all they have that fits you because, god forbid, you are curvy or have a big bust.”
“CLOTHING SIZES. I’m a size small, medium, or large and a 4-10 depending on the store. WHAT? My boyfriend can go into a store and pick out JEANS and know they’ll fit. If I wanna go jean shopping, I have to clear my schedule.”
“Thong wedgies, oh my god.”
“Thongs in general.”
“Let me wear granny panties in peace. I really don’t care about underwear lines so why is everyone afraid of knowing that yes, I do in fact wear underwear?”
Beauty and Health
“Anything to do with hair removal: the troubles of shaving, waxing, epilating, tweezing, threading, plucking, trimming, hair removal creams, laser hair removal, and the worst of all… ingrown hairs”
“When you’re in the shower and you get a hair in your butt crack and it’s such a strange and uncomfortable sensation.”
“Every girl hates to shave, but hates having hair everywhere.”
“Idk, this may be just a black girl thing, but changing our hair when we want to, or in my case, when you get bored of it. Don’t say you liked the other style better or ask how my hair grew so long overnight.”…. “NEVER ASK TO TOUCH IT “
“Pelvic exams. Like okay men, you have to get a finger up your butt when you’re like 50, but some girls get pelvic exams at 16 where a lady doctor pries open your vagina and talks to you while she looks inside. Not to mention they’re recommended yearly!”
“Nails and cuticles. That really grinds my gears. We talk about “nail beds” and have to have nice cuticles, and if our nails are painted they better not be chipped. Why do we care? Men have the ugliest nails I’ve ever seen and it doesn’t matter.”
Careers, Marriage, & Motherhood
“Marriage/family vs. career/education. It’s not easy.” …. “Why does this debate even exist?”
“Being pregnant is not the pretty maternity shoots you see in magazines or on TV. It’s morning sickness, carrying excess weight, constant pain, swollen ankles, hemorrhoids, having to buy a new wardrobe to fit your body, weird food cravings that are near impossible to satisfy, and crazy mood swings.”
“The fact that some men expect women to do all the ‘home stuff,’ i.e. laundry, dishes, etc. I do my brother’s laundry and whenever I ask him to do it, he gets mad and says it’s my job to do it since I’m a girl.”
“The understated war between stay-at-home moms vs. working moms.”….”People bash working moms because they are presumed to neglect their child. People bash stay-at-home moms because they’re presumed to not contribute financially.”…. “The worst is that they bash each other too, instead of standing up for one another. Being a mom isn’t easy, on any type of person.”
“‘It’s very easy to be considered a good dad and it’s very easy to be considered a bad mom.'”
Societal Double Standards
“The fact that we constantly have to think about safety all the time and guys barely ever think about it.”
“When it’s okay for your guy friends to tell you to stop doing something, but when you tell them to stop, it’s just taken as a joke or you’re told you’re overreacting.”
“Real talk, why can guys adjust their junk all the time but people look at me funny if I have to readjust my boobs or bra?”
“Being ’emotional’ because you’re a woman.”
“We poop. Sorry to burst the myth bubble.”
“The fact that basically everything designed for women doesn’t work as well as the equivalent male product and is twice as expensive.”
“I hate how we are conditioned to always apologize for things that don’t need an apology.”
“The fact that not only are we responsible for having kids, but we’re mainly responsible for preventing having them too.”
“I literally hold my keys as I walk at night and repeat the Miss Congeniality self-defense combo she does because I’m afraid of walking alone at night.”
“Mansplaining.”
“When you weight lift and guys feel the need to teach you when you’re at the gym.”
Overall, it can be tough being a girl. As much of a struggle as it can be, there are definitely some perks! Share any of your thoughts with us on Twitter @UConnHC.