Women experience lots of different things in their lifetime, and even if they’re unpleasant, sometimes they’re just deemed “normal.” But if you actually think about it, some of those things are kind of messed up!

One woman brought this to the public’s attention when she posted the question, “Women, what is something that women experience and is seen as ‘normal’ but is actually very wrong/shouldn’t be as accepted as it is?” to Reddit, and the responses completely blew up. The answers might surprise you!

1. Housewife Stereotypes

   “I know way too many women who think it’s normal to have to do most of the housework and childcare, plus the mental and emotional load of household management, even if they also have an outside job. Also, to manage their husbands as if they are children who can’t be expected to remember to make appointments or buy their own clothes or things for the children or holidays or take care of menial tasks without reminders and help.”

2. How Childbirth is Depicted

   “I’ve watched documentaries etc. (no kids myself) and what really struck me is how patronizing everyone was to these women who are going through perhaps the worst pain of their life, and how things like LITERALLY CUTTING THEIR GENITALS are seen as no big deal. Madness.”

3. Involuntary Smiling

   “Telling me to smile when I don’t want to. But when I was younger, I did out of discomfort.”

4. Commenting on Your Physical Appearance

   “That people think they have the right to comment on how a woman looks or what she is wearing. There have been way too many times where someone feels they need to point out my “physical flaws” just because, ex. acne, dark circles under my eyes, body/ facial hair, too pale, etc.”

5. Absent Dads/Husbands

   “Being married and having children with men who are absent parents/household members and it not being a point of contention, just accepted, expected, and accommodated.”

6. High School Dress Codes

   “Spaghetti strap tank tops on a hot summer day being ‘provocative.’ And they took time out of the day to measure skirts?!? Valuable education time, like what the hell.”

7. Downplaying Periods

   “I’ve seen so many men act like women are being babies on their period and it’s just enraging.”

8. Being Polite to Creepy Men

   “There are so many things that can go wrong and I’ve read too many stories of women being killed for not taking a guy’s number.”

9. Medical Discrimination

   “Not believing woman’s pain or symptoms or saying they are completely related to your monthly cycle/hormones.”

10. Women Being Called ‘Girls’

    “Whether it is conscious or not, it implies a lack of maturity and, therefore, deserved respect. Among countless other places I have heard this, I attempted to watch a season of The Bachelor (bad decision for many reasons) and I could not stand how often the women were called ‘girls.’ I couldn’t bring myself to check out The Bachelorette, but I suspect the men are never called ‘boys.’”

11. Getting an Infant’s Ears Pierced

    “Parents are ignoring their child’s right to consent to things that happen to their body and it’s purely aesthetic. Strange to push beauty standards on babies, let alone one that involves literally putting a hole in their body that could last their whole life.”

12. Tolerating Draining Partners

    “Relationships ARE work and conflict is bound to happen, but I see so many women doing all of the work all the time and blaming themselves when their men don’t get better.”

13. Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles

    “They are not talked about and really should be. They cause a host of mild annoyances (you shouldn’t be accidentally peeing when you sneeze this is not normal!) to actual problems (pelvic pain during pregnancies that can actually limit moving throughout the day). Most women suffer from something to do with a weak pelvic floor and have no idea that a) it’s not normal and b) can be worked on.”

Can you think of something women tend to normalize that we probably shouldn’t?