JUST BECAUSE WE’VE GOT A UTERUS!
Aren’t we all fed up of being told we’re the more ‘emotional’ sex?
When I was a little girl (round about the dark ages) dancing around the maypole was a thing. I know it’s hard to believe in the days of iphones and Instagram but seriously, us kids were expected to prance around a candy-striped pole with coloured flowing ribbons attached weaving patterns that were something to do with the warmth and renewal of spring. Still no idea to be honest but the fact that we used to endure this strange pagan early May tradition in pretty frocks (girls) and cute shorts and ties (boys) on the same playground we’d usually be pulling hair/eating dirt/ kicking footballs and one another was not lost on us.
Now the reason I’m telling you this on a fine May bank holiday week is that even then I was the biggest girl in infants school. And I was always paired with the tiniest little boy.
Which sadistic teacher thought this was a good idea still worries me but it was like Big Bird (my mum had a thing for yellow minidresses at the time) paired with Kermit. After he had been on a starvation diet. Did I cry? Nope. Because even then I realised that it would be pointless. Grin and crack on with it. Did he? Oh yes. His mum had to come and cuddle him. Which is why when we have both a male football boss (Northern Ireland women’s team manager Kenny Shiels) and a new survey saying that women are more ‘emotional, stressed and overwhelmed’ at work you’ll hear howls of laughter coming from me.
Because of all the situations I’ve been in, from newspaper offices to war zones, via hospital wards and football pitches, the strongest, feistiest, bravest and fiercest people have all had one thing in common. They. Were. Women.
It’s not even scientifically accurate to say that women are more emotional. We’re not.
There is a long history of classifying emotion in a pejorative way then blaming that on the uterus. In the 19th century, women were thought to be prone to a uniquely female problem: hysteria. Because we had a uterus! Incredibly hysterical women were often treated with hysterectomies.
We weren’t even included in medical research that involved us because our
‘WOMAN ARE FEISTY, BRAVE AND FIERCE’
ovaries meant we couldn’t be ‘experimentally controlled’. Not even making this stuff up.
We also describe men’s and women’s emotions in biased ways. A bloke whose emotions fluctuate during a sport event is described as ‘passionate’ but a woman is ‘irrational’, even if provoked.
Countless modern scientific studies have demonstrated there is actually no difference between the sexes. In fact one found that men were more emotional during relationship break-ups.
These tired tropes are not good for either sex. The toxic masculinity that means men can’t show emotion and should ‘man up’ is appalling for their mental health. Likewise, the pathetic little woman who needs a big strong man to look after her.
It’s all mad. Being able to cry, laugh, be strong and, yes, even ask for help is what life is about.
So happy, merry month of May to you all. And remember ladies, the only thing you ever really need to dance around is your handbag. Preferably with a prosecco rather
than a ribbon in your hand!