Disrespect isn’t always overt. Most of the time, it’s incredibly subtle, making it difficult to call out. When women do call out these unnoticed disrespects, they’re often called ‘crazy’ or ‘dramatic’, especially by men. However, it’s necessary because there are 19 subtle disrespect men regularly show women without realizing it.
Patronizing Them
Women are grown adults, so one of the most disrespectful things men can do, knowingly or unintentionally, is talk to them like they’re children. Patronizing them by telling them how to do their jobs, calling them ‘emotional’, or acting surprised that they can do things efficiently is rude and demeaning.
Minimizing Their Achievements
Unfortunately, many women are made to feel like they don’t deserve their success. Forbes reports that there is a confidence gap between men and women because women are shamed, whereas men are praised. That’s why it’s incredibly disrespectful for men to minimize women’s achievements and reinforce this societal norm.
Poor Communication
Communication can make or break a relationship. Women are typically made to feel responsible for the emotional labor in relationships, which includes initiating all communication. Some men may not think twice about their poor communication, but it’s a subtle sign that they’re disrespectful in other ways, too.
Making Derogatory Jokes
Nobody likes being the subject of a derogatory joke, especially when society accuses them of being ‘poor sports’ for not accepting it. Women are regularly the subjects of derogatory humor, such as when men joke about them being stupid, overdramatic, or bad drivers. Though these jokes are usually made generically, they still offend women individually.
Comparing Them
Some men think it’s a compliment to praise women by putting other women down, but most women actually hate it. Pitting women against each other encourages sexist comparisons and unnecessary competition. When men praise a woman for being beautiful, successful, or talented by disrespecting another woman, it’s not true praise at all.
Commenting on Their Bodies
Women are frequently stereotyped as being unable to take a compliment, but that’s not true. They simply don’t enjoy comments made about their bodies because they come across as creepy or distasteful. When men assume that praising women’s bodies is a compliment, they fail to recognize how disrespectful or even sinister it can be.
‘Helping’ Them With Chores and Children
Society has changed a lot, but work still needs to be done. HuffPost criticizes how men are regularly put on a pedestal for ‘helping’ their wives clean and look after the children. Unfortunately, this common disrespect is spurred on by men who refuse to challenge it, leaving women at a consistent disadvantage.
Constantly Flirting
Flirting is one of the easiest ways to show someone you’re interested in them, but there are times when it makes people uncomfortable. Women frequently report men flirting with them in inappropriate situations, including when they’re at work. Men usually don’t even realize the misstep they’re making.
Talking Over Them
There’s nothing more frustrating than being verbally drowned out by someone, but many women live this reality every day. Having male partners, colleagues, and friends talk over them contributes to the confidence gap, with women forced to speak up boldly and risk being called bossy. It also perpetuates subtle everyday disrespect.
Not Taking Them Seriously
For a long time, women couldn’t have careers on the same level as men. Now, they can, but many women are still disrespected by men who don’t take them seriously. Small actions like automatically dismissing a female colleague or refusing to listen to women in authoritative positions have frustrating consequences for women.
Only Speaking to Their Husbands
Time and again, women report being ignored by men who automatically bypass them to speak to their husbands instead. This usually happens when men assume women know nothing about the matter at hand, so they defer to their husbands, even if the wives are the ones enquiring about or paying for the product or service.
Invading Their Personal Space
Everybody is protective of their personal space, but it’s very common for men to invade women’s space in ways they wouldn’t with men. For example, some men don’t think twice about touching a woman’s waist or shoulders to move her out of their way. This casual physical disrespect is gendered and invasive.
Calling Them ‘Girls’
People reveal exactly how they see us through what they call us; sometimes, those things are subtly disrespectful. Many men use ‘women’ and ‘girls’ interchangeably, seemingly unaware that ‘girls’ is actually condescending. The Guardian observes how men often undermine and patronize women by calling them girls, demonstrating how normalized casual sexism is.
Acting Entitled
Nobody is entitled to another person’s body, time, or energy, and this is something women have been telling men who disrespect them for centuries. Consent is non-negotiable, so it’s incredibly disrespectful for men to act entitled to things from women that they don’t want to give. Men typically don’t realize how threatening it can be.
Using Biology to Invalidate Them
Women are made to feel like they’re inferior to men from childhood, and many men perpetuate this denigration without realizing it. When a woman gives a strong opinion, calls out mistreatment, or demands respect, she’s accused of being ‘too emotional’ or ‘unstable’. This throwaway language is loaded with disrespect.
Pedaling Double Standards
Double standards are born of a lack of respect. Sometimes, men don’t realize that they’re disrespecting women because they don’t notice the double standards. Where a man is authoritative, a woman is bossy. Where a father is working hard for his family, a mother is neglecting her children. The stigma often damages women’s reputations.
Mocking Femininity
Gender stereotyping hurts both men and women. When it happens to women, it’s usually done to categorize and diminish them. Some men frequently negatively stereotype femininity to use it as an insult against other men. Using womanhood as a form of mockery is an insult to women, no matter how playfully it’s intended.
Forgetting Special Dates
We all forget things, but there’s a sad trend of men forgetting important dates. Research published in the New York Post reveals that 52% of men have forgotten their partner’s birthday compared to 24% of women. Women aren’t perfect either, but it’s far more common for men to subtly disrespect their partners this way.
Downplaying Their Struggles
Promoting one demographic’s struggles at the expense of another’s does both groups a disservice, yet women’s issues are constantly downplayed to elevate men’s. Men and women deserve to be heard equally, but that’s not possible when some men continue to downplay women’s struggles and disrespect their experiences.
Up Next: 17 Behaviors That Make People Think Less of You
If you want to be accepted by those around you, you have to behave in certain ways. Obviously, you should still be yourself, but there are certain social ‘rules’ people should abide by, like avoiding these 17 behaviors that make people think less of you.
17 BEHAVIORS THAT MAKE PEOPLE THINK LESS OF YOU
20 Signs Someone Is Only Pretending to Care
Whether it’s to avoid hurting your feelings or if it’s part of a more elaborate plan to deceive you for benefits, people pretend for many reasons. The main theme with them, though, is that their actions never match the sugar-coated words that come out of their mouths. So that you don’t fall for someone like this, we’ve compiled 20 signs for you to look out for.
20 SIGNS SOMEONE IS ONLY PRETENDING TO CARE
18 Items at Walmart that Aren’t Worth Your Hard-Earned Money
For many of us, Walmart is the go-to superstore. Whether we need groceries, clothing, or technology, Walmart is a one-stop shop for everything you would need. However, there are some Walmart products you should avoid at all costs, such as the following 18 examples.
18 ITEMS AT WALMART THAT AREN’T WORTH YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY