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30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men

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In a 2018 Times opinion essay 'The Boys Are Not All Right,' American actor, comedian, and writer Michael Ian Black wrote: "The past 50 years have redefined what it means to be female in America. Girls today are told that they can do anything, be anyone. They've absorbed the message: They're outperforming boys in school at every level. But it isn't just about performance. To be a girl today is to be the beneficiary of decades of conversation about the complexities of womanhood, its many forms and expressions."

"Boys, though, have been left behind. No commensurate movement has emerged to help them navigate toward a full expression of their gender. It's no longer enough to 'be a man' — we no longer even know what that means."

Also, surveys from around the world find that males everywhere are reluctant to talk about their mental health and are far more likely to die by suicide than females.

Interested in the everyday implications of this, Reddit user Workdncsheets posted a question on the platform, asking "What are some things that are normal to men but mind-blowing to women?" and it immediately went viral. Here are some of the most popular replies among the 2.8K comments they've received.

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#1

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men I'm 39. I started down an entirely new career path in mid-January. I've had horrible imposter syndrome since day 1 but the new job feels good. My boss (who happens to be a woman) sent me the nicest most complimentary email thanking me for being such a good addition to the team and I sincerely cried because in all my years in the workforce nobody has ever appreciated me so much. I imagine to her it was just one of those things a good boss does - "hey, my employee did a good job, I should tell them!" I sent it to my dad when he asked me how the new job was going. Even HE cried out of pride. Men don't get compliments, and when we do, we really feel it.

GWindborn , Tom Pumford Report

Final score:

180points

#2

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Two guy friends could spend the afternoon together, have a grand time, come home, and have their respective wives be absolutely bewildered that they didn’t learn anything about what’s going on in the other guy's life.

cen-texan , Tyler Nix Report

Final score:

144points

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#3

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men The first time my wife showered with me she stops and says “it’s moving! Are you doing that? Why is it moving?” That was when I realized, if you don’t have a dong, you don’t know that they can move around as your testicles move, nor do you know that testicles move around all the time on their own. Particularly in an environment where the temperature is getting either hot or cold, like a shower. Balls move and balls itch. It’s what they do. And d***s have a mind of their own. Don’t ask me why it’s hard, I’ve been asking it that since I hit puberty.

DeaddyRuxpin , Carson Masterson Report

Final score:

118points

#4

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Had a meetup with the boys for hours. not a single photo was taken.

mastersyx , Ashkan Forouzani Report

Final score:

117points

#5

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Being single means no physical contact for extended periods. Or just me. I haven't been hugged in over 4 years. The last time I touched someone else was a handshake 5 months ago.

ridethroughlife , Kevin Lee Report

Final score:

100points

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#6

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Being treated as a danger regardless of what you do.

MarsNirgal , Roan Lavery Report

Final score:

95points

#7

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men My wife continually asks me 'did anyone say anything about your shirt/hair/shoes/etc?'

No, no one says anything about my appearance.

lollerkeet , Victor Larracuente Report

Final score:

92points

#8

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men As a woman I can say something that blows my mind constantly about men is being able to leave the house with no bag. Just like keys and wallet in pockets. 0 inventory. Wild to me.

cinnamonbutterfly , Mathias Reding Report

Final score:

92points

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#9

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men From what I am constantly told - the size of our standard pants pockets is mind-blowing.

supermodern , SHVETS production Report

Final score:

91points

#10

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Long car rides with another dude, nobody says anything and nobody is mad.

zenzealot , RDNE Stock project Report

Final score:

90points

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#11

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Men just naturally have a level of strength that surprises women. Testosterone is a hell of a d**g.

For example: my wife has been going to the gym for a while now. She's noticeably stronger now and it's awesome for her. I actually commented and complimented it the other night. But me, a dumpy 45 year old man whose exercise is walking and carrying groceries, I'm still stronger than her just because I'm a guy.

cbftw , Victor Freitas Report

Final score:

88points

#12

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Erection =\= Aroused.

It boggles their mind that just cause a guy gets hard doesn’t mean he is ready to go. Sometimes it just…happens.

PastPriority-771 , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

87points

#13

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men My friends who I haven't seen in YEARS went camping with me recently for four days. I got back and my wife asked me what's been going on in their lives. I pondered and said that I don't really know beyond some got married at some point, one had a kid but I don't know when, and that we mainly talked random stuff. One night we had ended up making a tier list of dipping sauces over three hours.

dBoyHail , Xue Guangjian Report

Final score:

85points

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#14

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men In general (the men I know), discussing a partners body or intimate relationship details would be crossing a line and is at best weird, and at worst a betrayal.

Classic-Economy2273 , Seven 7 Report

Final score:

80points

#15

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Having to suppress emotional responses, anxiety, depression otherwise being considered a loser, weak and worthless.

Fine-Geologist-695 , Alex Green Report

Final score:

75points

#16

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men We clean off s**t stuck to the inside of the toilet bowl when we p**s. It ain’t much but it’s honest work.

Outrageous-Mail-1267 , Jean van der Meulen Report

Final score:

68points

#17

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men I don't remember the birthday of my best friend of 12 years. i just know its in January.

Coolstashio , lil artsy Report

Final score:

66points

#18

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men The expectation to help in certain situations, especially as a big guy.

I went to retirement party for a person I never met before (invited by a friend). Literally minutes after I showed up, some random lady came up to me and *told* me to come with her because she needed something carried somewhere.

After I helped the woman above, I remember my (female) friend was kinda surprised that this woman just demanded I help her, without knowing who I was at all. I don't mind helping. On some level it's nice (?) knowing that I look strong enough to help people do things they physically can't. But this happens ALL. THE. TIME. Which also surprised her.

bigguy14433 , RDNE Stock project Report

Final score:

63points

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#19

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men That we don’t socialize/talk/bond with other guys in the bathroom.

No talking in the bathroom. You go in, take care of business, wash your hands, and get out.

No standing next to another dude at the urinal unless you have no choice.

Women’s behavior in the bathroom is considerably different than men’s behavior, or so I’ve been told.

FbxCycler , Lany-Jade Mondou Report

Final score:

62points

#20

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men My female friends don’t roast each other like I do with my friends. It’s all in good fun, but I can’t joke with them like I do with my male friends.

SorryWorldliness5296 , Lisa Fotios Report

Final score:

60points

#21

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men How much stress some of us feel trying to be providers.

Which probably isn't mind-blowing to single mothers.

xubax , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

57points

#22

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Apparently just thinking of ”nothing”. Total zoning out.

ahjteam , Cody Doherty Report

Final score:

56points

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#23

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men The complete f*****g mystery that is flirting.

The anxiety of approaching someone you're interested in and making the first move. Straight women act like it's nothing but I have known Bi women who get as anxious as any man who approaches a woman.

Getting kicked in the balls.

Knowing that when you shake hands with another man that when he squeezes your hand he is sizing you up. Deciding whether or not he could take you in a fight.

Understanding that being told "be yourself" is the equivalent for women of "he'll like you for your personality".

If you see a woman, let's say at work, openly crying she may be having anything from a tough day to having suffered a serious personal loss. Where as if you see a man doing this at work he's probably 6 minutes from s*****e. Not having the freedom to cry is so worked into the concept of manhood that most men can't even when they want to.

MartialBob , Katerina Holmes Report

Final score:

54points

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#24

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men My wife didn’t realize she’d been seeing this for years in various guys until she asked me what it was. I call it the “Howdy Pardner” - when you realize one or both of the twins is stuck to your leg so you kinda haunch out like a cowboy walking with his spurs on for just a split second and everything unsticks.

baltinerdist , Мария Волк Report

Final score:

54points

#25

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men How disposable we feel. Like Chris Rock said, "Only women, children, and puppies are loved unconditionally ".

RepresentativeDog141 , Nik Shuliahin Report

Final score:

52points

#26

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Mainly mind blowing to my wife.
When something in the house breaks, needs repairing, repainting, generally attended to. I don't have an automatic man signal straight to my brain that tells me what to do.
I have to go away, watch YouTube videos, read methods, roam around B&Q for a solution. It takes failed attempts and roaming around the offending situation cursing to myself when no one around untill I either fix it. Or call another male via form of payment to fix it because I'm out of my depth.
My wife is under the impression her role is to identify something is wrong and just hand it to me because I will "know what to do".

Portman88 , Theme Photos Report

Final score:

52points

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#27

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Struggling to do something in public and no one coming over to assist you.

i-need-blinker-fluid , charlesdeluvio Report

Final score:

50points

#28

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Living in an apartment with a tv and no furniture. Lol!!!

Afrochemist , andrewwkfan69 Report

Final score:

42points

#29

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Saying that you are or being sad and being completely ignored. Getting zero likes on social media for a post.

serene_brutality , Inzmam Khan Report

Final score:

40points

#30

30 Things That Are Unimaginable For Women, Yet Are Absolutely Normal For Men Going a long period of time without sex or a relationship. For some reason, women think it's easy for men to find someone. They think there is someone out there that would do it or we can just pull women at will.

genogano , Mika Baumeister Report

Final score:

38points

Note: this post originally had 45 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.

I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.

What do you think ?

Gustav Gallifrey 7 months ago (edited)

When, at work, the subject of conversation turns to sex, and women are taking part in it it, any man with an ounce of sense has to immediately excuse himself and leave the vicinity. Because, one day, one of those ladies may take a dislike to that man, and all she has to do is say 'sexual harassment' and he's guilty until proven innocent (and the label will probably still linger, anyway). For him to have taken part in that discussion, even to have remained within hearing distance of it, will just be another bit of 'evidence' for the case against him.

5points

BookFanatic 7 months ago

Yes. For a while there was one man who worked in our 17-person department. He said it was exhausting having to constantly have to rethink every word out of his mouth & double- and triple-check his interactions with us. Looking back, I'm not sure if we were a bunch of over-reacting ovary owners...or he was being cautious.

7points

Load More Replies...

Mike F 7 months ago

This was cool overall, but, as usual, 1 or 2 individuals have to weigh in with something nasty to say. Jiminy Cricket, can't some folks just STFU and enjoy a post without making it a battle of the sexes, US vs the world, or some other cr@p? Lighten up people and stop looking for axes to grind.

4points

kathleen pool 7 months ago

Seems like a lot of one-upmanship. We just have differences, it doesn't always have to be about "I have it worse than you do"

1point

Load More Replies...

Jessica Shookhoff 7 months ago

This whole post, overall made me sad. It doesn't mean there isn't still a lot of discrimination against women, cause there is (as in, only~2.5% of reported rapes result in a conviction and jail time or that women who get divorced are much less financially secure than men; "the key domain in which large and persistent gender differences emerged were women’s disproportionate losses in household income and associated increases in their risk of poverty and single parenting. Taken together, these findings suggest that men’s disproportionate strain of divorce is transient, whereas women’s is chronic." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5992251/; etc) But it feels so wrong to still hear that men don't feel like they can cry. Or that they never really get compliments. I just feel really sad about that. Also, just fyi, men like flowers, too! I usually get my partners sunflowers or tulips and they always seem to really like the gesture. Just saying.

2points

v 7 months ago

Do you see what you did? At least half of your post about being sad about how men are viewed by society doesn't even have anything to do with the topic of your own post.

5points

Load More Replies...

TheAmericanAmerican 7 months ago

For all my struggling brothers out there who don't know "how to be a man", just be like Uncle Iroh from The Las Airbender and life will improve

1point

Guess Undheit 7 months ago (edited)

The most pathetic part about ALL of those statements is that they are afraid of doing ANYTHING that might be perceived as caring, emotional, courteous, or seen as ceding ground to others. They are TERRIFIED of being seen as anything but dominant, that it will somehow emasculate them to ask for help or defer to others. [ ............................... ] I watch a lot of car crash videos, and most of the crashes could be prevented if males were willing to let someone merge in front, or lift off the accelerator for half a second and concede the space to the other car. But no, they're all insecure and pathetic males who "think" they're being emasculated if they don't prove dominance. They would rather be stupid and crash than be seen as smart and "weak".

1point

ColdSteelRonin 7 months ago

What you're describing is the average schmuck, not the average man although I will concede that there is overlap

2points

Load More Replies...

Snow_White 7 months ago

I get the feel that the people commenting on here are on the same level as being an aggressive vegan who supports halal meat.

0points

Snow_White 7 months ago

These poor men really been suffering from these horrendous problems all these years and no one offers any real support.

0points

MushroomHead22 7 months ago

they also don't try to get support.

-3points

Load More Replies...

Gustav Gallifrey 7 months ago (edited)

When, at work, the subject of conversation turns to sex, and women are taking part in it it, any man with an ounce of sense has to immediately excuse himself and leave the vicinity. Because, one day, one of those ladies may take a dislike to that man, and all she has to do is say 'sexual harassment' and he's guilty until proven innocent (and the label will probably still linger, anyway). For him to have taken part in that discussion, even to have remained within hearing distance of it, will just be another bit of 'evidence' for the case against him.

5points

BookFanatic 7 months ago

Yes. For a while there was one man who worked in our 17-person department. He said it was exhausting having to constantly have to rethink every word out of his mouth & double- and triple-check his interactions with us. Looking back, I'm not sure if we were a bunch of over-reacting ovary owners...or he was being cautious.

7points

Load More Replies...

Mike F 7 months ago

This was cool overall, but, as usual, 1 or 2 individuals have to weigh in with something nasty to say. Jiminy Cricket, can't some folks just STFU and enjoy a post without making it a battle of the sexes, US vs the world, or some other cr@p? Lighten up people and stop looking for axes to grind.

4points

kathleen pool 7 months ago

Seems like a lot of one-upmanship. We just have differences, it doesn't always have to be about "I have it worse than you do"

1point

Load More Replies...

Jessica Shookhoff 7 months ago

This whole post, overall made me sad. It doesn't mean there isn't still a lot of discrimination against women, cause there is (as in, only~2.5% of reported rapes result in a conviction and jail time or that women who get divorced are much less financially secure than men; "the key domain in which large and persistent gender differences emerged were women’s disproportionate losses in household income and associated increases in their risk of poverty and single parenting. Taken together, these findings suggest that men’s disproportionate strain of divorce is transient, whereas women’s is chronic." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5992251/; etc) But it feels so wrong to still hear that men don't feel like they can cry. Or that they never really get compliments. I just feel really sad about that. Also, just fyi, men like flowers, too! I usually get my partners sunflowers or tulips and they always seem to really like the gesture. Just saying.

2points

v 7 months ago

Do you see what you did? At least half of your post about being sad about how men are viewed by society doesn't even have anything to do with the topic of your own post.

5points

Load More Replies...

TheAmericanAmerican 7 months ago

For all my struggling brothers out there who don't know "how to be a man", just be like Uncle Iroh from The Las Airbender and life will improve

1point

Guess Undheit 7 months ago (edited)

The most pathetic part about ALL of those statements is that they are afraid of doing ANYTHING that might be perceived as caring, emotional, courteous, or seen as ceding ground to others. They are TERRIFIED of being seen as anything but dominant, that it will somehow emasculate them to ask for help or defer to others. [ ............................... ] I watch a lot of car crash videos, and most of the crashes could be prevented if males were willing to let someone merge in front, or lift off the accelerator for half a second and concede the space to the other car. But no, they're all insecure and pathetic males who "think" they're being emasculated if they don't prove dominance. They would rather be stupid and crash than be seen as smart and "weak".

1point

ColdSteelRonin 7 months ago

What you're describing is the average schmuck, not the average man although I will concede that there is overlap

2points

Load More Replies...

Snow_White 7 months ago

I get the feel that the people commenting on here are on the same level as being an aggressive vegan who supports halal meat.

0points

Snow_White 7 months ago

These poor men really been suffering from these horrendous problems all these years and no one offers any real support.

0points

MushroomHead22 7 months ago

they also don't try to get support.

-3points

Load More Replies...

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