Being a woman can be amazing. There’s nothing stronger than the bond of sisterhood, and women are unstoppable when they band together and support one another. Girls just want to have fun, after all!
This post may includeaffiliate links.
Its so funny how in the post for scary things about being a woman, the overwhelming answer is basically men. Men raping us, men killing us, men trapping us with kids and then abusing us. Them assaulting us and then blaming us for our assault. Them assaulting us and then accusing us of lying, etc.In the post for scary things about being a man, the overwhelming answer I saw was their reputation. Being perceived as a pedo, being perceived as a creep, etc.And while being percieved as a threat must suck, I cant help but not feel bad because thats the result of their behaviors. You dont get to historically and systematically oppress and assault women and children and then walk around this world with the reputation of being protectors and leaders.Women face hardship because of men. Men face hardship because of other men.
The fact that my basic human rights are up for debate and are not guaranteed.
The rise of incels and the manosphereI am genuinely afraid of what is going to happen once these teenagers raised on alpha male podcasts and incel communities start getting into politics and law. I am terrified.I’m terrified of the way youtube is pushing this content mercilessly in their algorithm. I’m afraid of the way some argue women shouldn’t have rights, shouldn’t vote, domestic abuse should be legal.I’m just honestly terrified that this content is going to lead to a wave of misogynist and dangerous policies in the future
To find out how this conversation started in the first place, we reached out to Reddit user Forced_to_Exist_, who posed the question, “What’s the scariest thing about being a woman?” She was kind enough to have a chat withBored Panda, sharing that she was simply interested in hearing about the experiences of other women.
She added that she’s childfree for various reasons, including how terrifying pregnancy and birth are. “But also because of how hard it is for mothers out there,” the OP noted. “Our healthcare system treats pregnant and birthing women like animals.”
I am male but have seen it said before when regarding going on a first date. Men are scared she will be fat. Women are scared they will be raped and/or murdered.When I was young I thought that was just anti-male hyperbole. But then after I met my ex wife and she told me the horrible things that have happened. Then other women close to me opened upI no longer think it was hyperbole. Men do terrible things to women and often go unpunished. I am not surprised women fear. It is horrible to live in fear like that. It’s not fair and it’s not right.Anyway not sure what else I can say. I just hope the good guys outweigh the evil.
dudes will literally beat the s**t out, or even kill you in a fit of uncontrolled emotional rage over mundane things , while simultaneously claiming you are the one that’s unable to control your emotions
We were also curious if the OP believes most men understand how scary it can be to be a woman. “They might have some idea when they meet aggressors who are bigger than them. But I don’t really think they will know how scary it is to be stalked or worried about being SA’d or raped,” Forced_to_Exist_ says.
There is a long standing stigma of women being overly dramatic and medical professionals (even female professionals) dismissing their pain or discomfort.I had several friends of varying ages who were misdiagnosed or ignored because the doctors assumed it was a pregnancy or period related problem.Meanwhile, my older brother went to the doctor for what was a essentially heartburn and got every test under the sun to diagnose it.
Loss of reproductive rights in certain areas of the U.S.
Feeling like an inanimate object created for other’s use, pleasure, and victimization.I was a smart, sunny kid who trusted everyone. I am now a menopausal woman who trusts no one.The things that happened in between are a whole novel, I suppose, but suffice to say that I am still working to see myself as a person who has value beyond her visual and sexual being, who can be loved as a person completely separate from my appearance, and who still has something to offer the world.This becomes more difficult as I begin to disappear, which has happened as I have aged. It is bizarre and hurtful and unsettling. I don’t know what else to say about it, except that my sense of self has been put through the shredder and the mill too often. And I really, really never expected this to happen.
“One lady shared her experience of how a grown man complimented her ‘birthing hips’ while she was only 8,” she added. “I related to the women that shared their experiences of being objectified and being treated as nothing but a walking womb or an object for gratification; this made me sick to my stomach.”
That there is no cure for some female specific diseases (PCOS, endometriosis ) but unisex/male diseases are much better researched.
That almost any man you meet can easily overpower you without much effort. Any woman who ever had to physically fight a man knows well how helpless she felt at that moment.
Giving birth to a child is dangerous and post-partum injuries can be very serious.
Probably the fact that there are men (of which you can never identify with certainty until it’s too late) who will prioritize their desire for your body over anything else - your consent, your wellbeing, your life, anything.
Having to rely on men in order to have rights.
Ah, I guess it depends on where you live, BUT as a Mexican woman I’d say existing is the scariest thing about being a woman.Just Google “Mexico feminicidios” and you’ll get it.
Not knowing if a guy is being friends with you to take advantage of you or if their actually being genuine. Confusing and scary
Other things have been mentioned that I agree with. I’ll add:Not being taken seriously, especially in a medical situation.Example: I went to the hospital in severe pain and the first things I was told and checked out for were period cramps and pregnancy, though I said it was neither. I felt like I was dying. After being pregnant and having 2 kids, I can say it felt like neither.Turned out I had a severe kidney infection and could have died.Edit to add since some people have mentioned it seems like a routine thing to to:I was placed as ‘not urgent’ in the triage list and waited hours before they got to reviewing my test results. I sat in the corner of triage streaming feeling like I was dying and trying to tough it out because I felt ashamed and like an inconvenience that I went to the ER. When they finally did get to my results, they quickly changed their tune and treated me immediately. I could have gone septic while waiting for them to treat me.
As a heterosexual woman, you have to date your only natural predator.You can also choose celibacy, but the predators will be still lurking around everywhere you go.
The fact that every single one of us will have experienced sexual assault of one degree or another in our lifetimes.
For me, it would be being SAed and then even worse, not believed.
Going pretty much anywhere alone, even during the daytime. The fact that I’ve had to learn to be aware of my surroundings just because I’m a woman makes me mad.
How men don’t see us as people. We’re girlfriends, se*ual objects, mothers, sisters, a fun night, a prize, a toy, but so rarely a normal, flawed being who deserve as much respect as a man naturally gets from other men. So many women go out with men who don’t even like them, because they just want a gf, not a partner. It’s scary because it feels like we’ll never be seen as human beings.
Having to have my rapist’s child against my will(Been there, nearly done that - gotta love a chemical pregnancy)
Being anywhere alone. Remember reading once “being a woman is like walking around with 10k in your pocket and everybody knows you have it”.
I’m a violent crime survivor and I guess as a woman it’s a fear of being attacked again.
Thinking about the horrible things soldiers do at war/in conflict situations. They ways they torture and SA people. How normal it can become.And knowing those men aren’t monsters. They are human.And wondering how many of the men around me would love the chance to the torture and assault people if they thought they could get away with it.
I work with domestic violence and SA survivors. I don’t even know where to start.(Including men and lgbt survivors, elderly and children, human trafficking and stalking)
Society’s expectations of women are pretty terrifying.
Falling in love with someone and trusting them and sacrificing for them only to have them leave you when you get old. I’m so scared of that happening to me.
You are trained to find comfort in other women, but not warned that women can do just as disgusting things as men if not more so. There was this attitude growing up that women/mothers were inherently good and could do no harm. That belief caused me and im sure SO many others SO much harm. Women and mothers can be despicable people too.
See Also on Bored Panda
It’s that there are so many people who are willing to impregnate me against my will, because they see me as a mere tool. And pregnancy really destroys my body, so I don’t wanna get pregnant.
The first time you have your period is pretty scary even if you are prepared.
More annoying than scary but its the constant gaslighting when you experience a discomforting situation or you dont agree with something, i know oftentimes its simply projection but it still grinds my gears
A man could kill me without even breaking a sweat
Last night I was walking down a busy nightlife street (sober) and a random drunk guy grabbed my arm to get my attention. So yeah… like all the other women are commenting, men are the biggest threat.
That we live in a world where the incel population is increasing drastically.
Not knowing if the guy you’re with loves you for you or because they love your body
Knowing that over 50% of the population could overpower me any time they want.
Continue reading with Bored Panda PremiumUnlimited contentAd-free browsingDark modeSubscribe nowAlready a subscriber?Sign In
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited contentAd-free browsingDark mode
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?Sign In
Knowing that whether or not someone sees you as a person worthy of agency and respect often has nothing to do with how you act or who you actually are. That goes double when you’re a queer woman.
How easily I am to lose at a physical fight and get sexually abused… it’s very easy fyi
The concept of pregnancy.
Knowing that if war or violence breaks out, the kindest thing I can look forward to is a quick death.
meneveryone talks about walking alone at night and it’s 100% true. i know that if something happens to me there’s no way i can fight back, that’s why i have to carry like, a rape whistle and mace
Not knowing if a guy is being friends with you to take advantage of you, or if he’s being actually genuine.
Never being 100% safe. No matter what!
The world we’re living in.
The sense of some unseen predator somewhere out there.
Modal closeAdd Your Answer!Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Modal close
Add Your Answer!Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Not your original work?Add source
Modal closeModal closeOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.UploadUploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermarkChangeSourceTitleUpdateAdd Image
Modal closeOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.UploadUploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermarkChangeSourceTitleUpdateAdd Image
Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
Upload
UploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermark
Error occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.
TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermark
InstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermark
FacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermark
ChangeSourceTitle
You May Like50 Women Share The Things Others Say To Them Without Realizing They’re OffensiveRugilė Žemaitytė50 Times Women Had The Most Savage Comebacks To Creepy Men’s DMsJustinas KeturkaPerson Calls Out Well-Off Friends For Shamelessly Using A Food Bank, They Shut Them Down FastMonika Pašukonytė
Rugilė Žemaitytė
Justinas Keturka
Monika Pašukonytė
Social Issues
