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There can never be 50/50 between a man and woman as we give birth and they can never compensate for that ever

158 replies

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 16:19

Women go through pregnancy childbirth periods menopause

Yet many men in there princess era thinknthe woman should go 50/50, they haven't got a clue

OP posts:
gannett · 20/09/2026 17:36

Not all women give birth or even want to give birth.

I'm childfree. Giving birth doesn't seem like a particularly special skill to me.

Whaleandsnail6 · 20/09/2026 17:36

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:35

Bloody well hope there is hope as it’s driving me nuts

sent happen to my own mum
worked full time
did everything at home, was miserable and depressed and no wonder
treated like a mug

see the same kinda thing happing to my lovely funny beautiful clever one niece and so many other woman I know let Alone on here a daily occurrence !

But these women are letting it happen!

Me and my husband are 50/50 in household chores, kids, finances because I wouldn't put up with being a martyr.

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:36

Marycontrarygarden · 20/09/2026 17:35

If women allow it then what do they expect?

Well I don’t have an argument for this one

OP posts:
LadyLooo · 20/09/2026 17:37

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:36

You are aware sperm banks are quite common now ?

Are you aware of who contributes the sperm to said banks?

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:37

gannett · 20/09/2026 17:36

Not all women give birth or even want to give birth.

I'm childfree. Giving birth doesn't seem like a particularly special skill to me.

Good for you if it’s not what you want
fair enough but it’s a major risk to life and health

OP posts:
SouthLondonMum22 · 20/09/2026 17:38

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:37

Good for you if it’s not what you want
fair enough but it’s a major risk to life and health

It's also a choice.

Marycontrarygarden · 20/09/2026 17:39

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:36

Well I don’t have an argument for this one

You're mother's era unfortunately didn't think they could or should expect more.

WallaceinAnderland · 20/09/2026 17:39

sent happen to my own mum
worked full time
did everything at home, was miserable and depressed and no wonder
treated like a mug

You only get treated like a mug if you behave like a mug. As Louise said "you get what you settle for"

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:40

Catza · 20/09/2026 17:35

So, in other words, you believe women are entitled to receive unlimited and unquestionable financial support from a man on account of them being women? And then you call men entitled in the very same breath...

Im saying that it will never be an equal contribution because it’s impossible

OP posts:
x2boys · 20/09/2026 17:40

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:36

You are aware sperm banks are quite common now ?

Are you aware that sperm banks still need men to contribute sperm?

Ponderingwindow · 20/09/2026 17:40

Gestation and lactation cost women financially. There is no getting around that. Even if it is a mythical couple who split all other aspects of parenting equally, you can’t get around biology. Couples should never try to be 50/50 financially if they choose to have children it doesn’t reflect the economic reality of having children. The man absolutely should compensate the woman for the direct and indirect costs of having a child.

LadyLooo · 20/09/2026 17:40

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:40

Im saying that it will never be an equal contribution because it’s impossible

And impossible to have a baby without a man producing the sperm 🤷‍♂️

LadyLooo · 20/09/2026 17:41

x2boys · 20/09/2026 17:40

Are you aware that sperm banks still need men to contribute sperm?

I genuinely don't think she is.

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:41

Marycontrarygarden · 20/09/2026 17:39

You're mother's era unfortunately didn't think they could or should expect more.

My Mothers era was perhaps an unfortunate time, because I do think back then 80s women were actually under alot of pressure to also work out of the home

OP posts:
WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:42

WallaceinAnderland · 20/09/2026 17:39

sent happen to my own mum
worked full time
did everything at home, was miserable and depressed and no wonder
treated like a mug

You only get treated like a mug if you behave like a mug. As Louise said "you get what you settle for"

To be fair
I don’t disagree with that
people will treat you like a mug if you allow it

OP posts:
WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:44

Think about wedding vows
they don’t say, oh I agree to go 50/50 do they

they say everything I have i share with you
and what’s mine is yours

and that’s the only way things can work properly
because no one knows what’s going to happen in terms of illnesses etc
you can’t equalise that can you
oh you were ill for 5 years so now you owe me x

OP posts:
WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:46

Ponderingwindow · 20/09/2026 17:40

Gestation and lactation cost women financially. There is no getting around that. Even if it is a mythical couple who split all other aspects of parenting equally, you can’t get around biology. Couples should never try to be 50/50 financially if they choose to have children it doesn’t reflect the economic reality of having children. The man absolutely should compensate the woman for the direct and indirect costs of having a child.

Well bloody said 👏👏👏👏

OP posts:
SouthLondonMum22 · 20/09/2026 17:46

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:44

Think about wedding vows
they don’t say, oh I agree to go 50/50 do they

they say everything I have i share with you
and what’s mine is yours

and that’s the only way things can work properly
because no one knows what’s going to happen in terms of illnesses etc
you can’t equalise that can you
oh you were ill for 5 years so now you owe me x

Depends on your wedding vows.

50/50 works well in my marriage. Illness would be a different matter, obviously.

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:46

Marycontrarygarden · 20/09/2026 17:39

You're mother's era unfortunately didn't think they could or should expect more.

Why do you think that was ?

OP posts:
Sotiredimightreallydie · 20/09/2026 17:47

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:44

Think about wedding vows
they don’t say, oh I agree to go 50/50 do they

they say everything I have i share with you
and what’s mine is yours

and that’s the only way things can work properly
because no one knows what’s going to happen in terms of illnesses etc
you can’t equalise that can you
oh you were ill for 5 years so now you owe me x

Those vows go both ways 🙄

PantaloonMad · 20/09/2026 17:47

x2boys · 20/09/2026 16:36

You do realise that only men can produce the essential sperm to get you pregnant?

And that’s really difficult is it? 😂

Unwantedmaleopinion · 20/09/2026 17:52

Can never be equal never was , never has never will be for biological differences you mention

It can be fair. unfortunately to be fair needs all the hate on both sides to stop and we’re a long long way off that happening!

Unfortunately opinions like yours OP. Do not further the journey and makes men see giving up power as pointless.

x2boys · 20/09/2026 17:52

PantaloonMad · 20/09/2026 17:47

And that’s really difficult is it? 😂

My ponit waa the Op seems to think the man contributes nothing to the pregnancy i was pointing out
That mens sperm is still needed
Wether thats from good old fashioned sex
Or from a a sperm bank

Comeondoreen · 20/09/2026 17:52

Catza · 20/09/2026 17:31

Presumably, they are not thinking that far ahead. I am not going to insist a man pays 100% of everything when I move in with him just because, hypothetically, we might have a child one day.
We would have this discussion at an appropriate time not on the first date FFS.

I absolutely insisted this - well, I say insist, but I never actually dated a man who expected otherwise so I didn’t need to insist.

If I am entering into a sexual relationship, even if we’re not trying for a baby, I alone am taking on the risk of becoming pregnant and all that this would physically entail as well as the fact that my career and financial instability would be impacted, as no contraception is 100% effective.

So yes, the man can very much pay the bills thank you very much.

SleeplessRoads · 20/09/2026 17:54

WhatTheCatHeard · 20/09/2026 17:20

I'm saying no matter who earns what, no man will ever be able to equal what a woman does by having children

Yes it takes sperms big deal, compared to the womans contribution and risk to HER life and health
And ps there's plenty of sperms banks these days

I think you’re mixing up man and woman with father and mother.

Neither me nor DH will give birth so none of your points about pregnancy and childbirth any way impact the split between the man and woman in my marriage.