Gender equality has come a long way since the days of women being unable to vote or hold down jobs, but we still have some way to go before we can rid ourselves of all the stereotypes and roles we’ve put in place.
And one woman on Reddit has gone viral after she lamented the position many women now find themselves in – stuck between being an “independent woman” and being a housewife.
The woman received praise for slamming the way she feels expected to have a “super high self-sufficient income” at the same time as doing “all the chores” at home, as well as hitting out at men who refuse to help around the house.
She wrote: “I’m tired of being expected to be an independent, high-earning, house-trophy wife.
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“I’ve got be an independent woman now with my own super high self-sufficient income. Breaking glass ceilings with my mind. Strong arming my way out several layers of inequality with Girl Power.
“But I’m still expected to do all the chores as if I was born with the innate ability.
“If I expect reciprocity in the household I'm nagging, and my standards are too high. The reason the trash wasn't taken out is actually because I wasn't nice enough about it.
“Also, the dishes just magically get cleaned. And I just make better food, which I also possess an unpractised talent for.”
The woman then went on to say she and many others feel “shamed” by both men and women if they require “financial support”.
And she also stated she feels like she’s the one to blame when she ends up in a relationship with a man who doesn’t treat her “like a queen”.
She said: “But equality, right? So go dutch on those dates. Split the rent equally. Prepare to be shamed by both genders if you expect any financial support. Independence!
“And when I can't break free of gender norms in a relationship, it's actually my fault for not finding The Right Guy. He's out there, definitely, and he's actually the most progressive man alive who treats all women like queens.
“This long string of men I've encountered who want to be congratulated after being told to take out the trash are actually all my fault. Should've had higher standards for myself.”
The woman ended her post by touching on the immense amount of pressure she feels to conform to what society expects of her.
She wrote: “I also have to be beautiful while doing all of this.
“And it's also my fault for feeling any pressure to do all of this. Remember, independent woman.
“Anyone else feel this?”
The Reddit post has received over 1,700 comments since it was posted this week, with many commenters sharing their own frustrations.
One person wrote: “You forgot to mention the children you should be squeezing out, raising, and managing. And the exercise regime you have to take on to ensure you can properly hide any signs of doing so.”
While another said: “You also have to know you can't go out and party after you turn 30, you have to have a marriage and kids, and you have to have a specific career. You also have to have a big shiny SUV and a big house that you end up maintaining 24/7.”
And a third posted: “Oh yes and be careful who you have kids with too because now I have to spend the rest of eternity co-parenting with a selfish, inept man-child.”
