25 Harsh Truths That Enrage Women But Many Have Learned To Live With
Uncomfortable realities of womanhood that women have learned to accept in their lives.
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Everyone faces unique challenges, and every story matters. Recently, writer Carina North invited women on Threads to share their thoughts on the most difficult aspects of womanhood. The conversation quickly grew, with responses touching on social expectations, complex relationships, and personal changes.
At a time when genuine discussions can feel rare, this exchange offered real, heartfelt reflections. To highlight some of the most resonant voices, we’ve curated several key insights and shared them in the gallery below.
More info: Instagram | Substack | Threads
Image source: donna.cha, Vitaly Gariev/unsplash
My mum had to get a man to speak to businesses over the phone to get respect when she was dealing with them. She was a single parent and worked so hard but was never heard.
Image source: lulubelle7676, Getty Images/unsplash
Men don’t LIKE women.
They like what they signify—a wife, house, kids—signifies success.
But I don’t think most men genuinely LIKE women.
Image source: suzypink8214, Daiga Ellaby/unsplash
Being alone and peaceful is far greater than settling or forcing myself to make something work with someone that isn't my person.
Image source: whitegirlspice, Getty Images/unsplash
That my own parents are upset that I don’t want kids. I am 24 and they keep saying “you’ll change your mind” no I won’t. It’s so annoying. Like I am grown and can make my own decisions about MY OWN body.
Image source: maeganerd, Lala Azizli/unsplash
No matter how much we succeed, most men will think they're superior by default
Image source: janellealisefreeman, Getty Images/unsplash
That for a lot of men, once you reach a certain age as a woman, you’re invisible. I sit with many elderly women in hospice, they have stories for days. But only I seem to hear them. I work with women in their late 50s and early 60s, and the lives they have lived are truly, AMAZING. Is this our fate? To only exist to men, during the maiden/ mother phase of life? Half the population ignores women 45+?
Image source: flamezindabad, Getty Images/unsplash
That doctors will disregard our concerns and pain tolerance, even if they are a female.
Image source: c.adelinejames, Getty Images/unsplash
That it doesn't matter what I do or accomplish, only how attractive people find me.
Image source: alkalinequinn, Getty Images/unsplash
That nobody cares about our health as much as we do. Including doctors. Every symptom I have is an uphill battle to not be labelled as 'anxious'. Sometimes I feel like we're still in the 1800s and I'll be sent to an asylum before my symptoms are taken seriously :,). Not listening to health care professionals has saved my life and that terrifies me.
Image source: jan.i.s.0ptera, CoWomen/unsplash
That other women can be misogynistic.
Image source: klarinette75, Jonathan Borba/unsplash
That my body is weaker than a man's and that therefore I will never feel safe. That 40 years of periods and 500+ cycles is somehow not enough.
Image source: sanela.estrella, chloe s./unsplash
OH another one— instead of listening to the literal billions of women who TELL them what women want, they will always throw that away and take a man’s advice on what women want.
cuz of course, we’re lying and they know better.
Image source: wendal0, Getty Images/unsplash
That it always will be my fault. because I should have tidied up after them, I should have checked they're OK, I should have known what everyone liked, I shouldn't have spoken out.
Image source: cherry_lane79, Getty Images/unsplash
Misogyny, internalized misogyny and medical misogyny. To say some.
Image source: neva.evangelina, Getty Images/unsplash
The saddest topic ?
I can only agree with… literally every single lady here.
My own truth: no matter how educated and experienced you are, your supervisor (if it’s a man) will always prioritise another man’s opinion and decision.
Image source: lawishur, Getty Images/unsplash
You can say something very relevant, honest and well thought, but nobody will truly listen until a man repeats it.
Image source: mannic.rogers, Michael T/unsplash
That because I didnt have children, im somehow inferior.
Image source: meghankcrozier, Vitaly Gariev/unsplash
One of the hardest ugly truths I’ve had to accept as a woman is having to back up statements with research or a source. I have several instances where I state a fact and a dude will be like, “wait, that can’t be right?” And then I will literally pull the book out that it was from and cite my source and sometimes they’ll be like “ah ok” and other times they’ll want more sources.
Image source: beharleyhappy, A. C./unsplash
I will always be judged based on my body and looks, and it's the first thing men attack when they realise how strong my character is.
Image source: how.i.rebuilt.myself, Getty Images/unsplash
Lots of men will never see us as people. Men can pursue and even marry us and tick the boxes of treating us ok (like you do a pet or appliance) - it doesn’t mean he sees you as a person or is interested in you as a person. Those men are also creating products and making laws and leading institutions while ignoring the needs of half the population - not noticing when we’re not in the room, and happier when we’re not as it’s uncomfortable when not-people speak up.
Image source: 400yoswampwitch, Getty Images/unsplash
I will never get proper care from the industrialized healthcare system.
Image source: drkatebalestrieri, Getty Images/unsplash
That I likely will not outlive patriarchy.
Image source: mjorgenson23, Curated Lifestyle/unsplash
That most other women underestimate their capabilities. I can’t even recall how many times I have had women in my neighborhood asked me where I take my car in for service and when I tell them that I do it myself they’re completely flabbergasted. I always invite them over to watch and learn how to do with themselves and see how easy it is. Only the really easy stuff: oil changes, brakes, belts, hoses, spark plugs… If I can learn to bake a cake they can learn to change their own oil.
Image source: littleballofgiggles, Good Faces/unsplash
I think the scariest one for me is that there very well could be a great, upstanding man who pursues me in earnest and genuinely wants everything I want, but I’ll be so afraid waiting for the other shoe to drop that I’ll ruin it somehow. But I’m working at conquering that fear, and not being the conquered.
#1
Image source: donna.cha, Vitaly Gariev/unsplash
My mum had to get a man to speak to businesses over the phone to get respect when she was dealing with them. She was a single parent and worked so hard but was never heard.
#2
Image source: lulubelle7676, Getty Images/unsplash
Men don’t LIKE women.
They like what they signify—a wife, house, kids—signifies success.
But I don’t think most men genuinely LIKE women.
#3
Image source: suzypink8214, Daiga Ellaby/unsplash
Being alone and peaceful is far greater than settling or forcing myself to make something work with someone that isn't my person.
#4
Image source: whitegirlspice, Getty Images/unsplash
That my own parents are upset that I don’t want kids. I am 24 and they keep saying “you’ll change your mind” no I won’t. It’s so annoying. Like I am grown and can make my own decisions about MY OWN body.
#5
Image source: maeganerd, Lala Azizli/unsplash
No matter how much we succeed, most men will think they're superior by default
#6
Image source: janellealisefreeman, Getty Images/unsplash
That for a lot of men, once you reach a certain age as a woman, you’re invisible. I sit with many elderly women in hospice, they have stories for days. But only I seem to hear them. I work with women in their late 50s and early 60s, and the lives they have lived are truly, AMAZING. Is this our fate? To only exist to men, during the maiden/ mother phase of life? Half the population ignores women 45+?
#7
Image source: flamezindabad, Getty Images/unsplash
That doctors will disregard our concerns and pain tolerance, even if they are a female.
#8
Image source: c.adelinejames, Getty Images/unsplash
That it doesn't matter what I do or accomplish, only how attractive people find me.
#9
Image source: alkalinequinn, Getty Images/unsplash
That nobody cares about our health as much as we do. Including doctors. Every symptom I have is an uphill battle to not be labelled as 'anxious'. Sometimes I feel like we're still in the 1800s and I'll be sent to an asylum before my symptoms are taken seriously :,). Not listening to health care professionals has saved my life and that terrifies me.
#10
Image source: jan.i.s.0ptera, CoWomen/unsplash
That other women can be misogynistic.
#11
Image source: klarinette75, Jonathan Borba/unsplash
That my body is weaker than a man's and that therefore I will never feel safe. That 40 years of periods and 500+ cycles is somehow not enough.
#12
Image source: sanela.estrella, chloe s./unsplash
OH another one— instead of listening to the literal billions of women who TELL them what women want, they will always throw that away and take a man’s advice on what women want.
cuz of course, we’re lying and they know better.
#13
Image source: wendal0, Getty Images/unsplash
That it always will be my fault. because I should have tidied up after them, I should have checked they're OK, I should have known what everyone liked, I shouldn't have spoken out.
#14
Image source: cherry_lane79, Getty Images/unsplash
Misogyny, internalized misogyny and medical misogyny. To say some.
#15
While 60 countries have had female leaders already, the US still refuses to vote for a female President. Twice now, qualified women were willing to serve their country and instead...well, you know the rest. Image source: roamingromi#16
Image source: neva.evangelina, Getty Images/unsplash
The saddest topic ?
I can only agree with… literally every single lady here.
My own truth: no matter how educated and experienced you are, your supervisor (if it’s a man) will always prioritise another man’s opinion and decision.
#17
Image source: lawishur, Getty Images/unsplash
You can say something very relevant, honest and well thought, but nobody will truly listen until a man repeats it.
#18
Image source: mannic.rogers, Michael T/unsplash
That because I didnt have children, im somehow inferior.
#19
Image source: meghankcrozier, Vitaly Gariev/unsplash
One of the hardest ugly truths I’ve had to accept as a woman is having to back up statements with research or a source. I have several instances where I state a fact and a dude will be like, “wait, that can’t be right?” And then I will literally pull the book out that it was from and cite my source and sometimes they’ll be like “ah ok” and other times they’ll want more sources.
#20
Image source: beharleyhappy, A. C./unsplash
I will always be judged based on my body and looks, and it's the first thing men attack when they realise how strong my character is.
#21
Image source: how.i.rebuilt.myself, Getty Images/unsplash
Lots of men will never see us as people. Men can pursue and even marry us and tick the boxes of treating us ok (like you do a pet or appliance) - it doesn’t mean he sees you as a person or is interested in you as a person. Those men are also creating products and making laws and leading institutions while ignoring the needs of half the population - not noticing when we’re not in the room, and happier when we’re not as it’s uncomfortable when not-people speak up.
#22
Image source: 400yoswampwitch, Getty Images/unsplash
I will never get proper care from the industrialized healthcare system.
#23
Image source: drkatebalestrieri, Getty Images/unsplash
That I likely will not outlive patriarchy.
#24
Image source: mjorgenson23, Curated Lifestyle/unsplash
That most other women underestimate their capabilities. I can’t even recall how many times I have had women in my neighborhood asked me where I take my car in for service and when I tell them that I do it myself they’re completely flabbergasted. I always invite them over to watch and learn how to do with themselves and see how easy it is. Only the really easy stuff: oil changes, brakes, belts, hoses, spark plugs… If I can learn to bake a cake they can learn to change their own oil.
#25
Image source: littleballofgiggles, Good Faces/unsplash
I think the scariest one for me is that there very well could be a great, upstanding man who pursues me in earnest and genuinely wants everything I want, but I’ll be so afraid waiting for the other shoe to drop that I’ll ruin it somehow. But I’m working at conquering that fear, and not being the conquered.DE
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