Why are there so many men on this site?

[19ptrialprice]

There seems to be an increasing number of men on this website. These men appear to present themselves as straight cisgender men. This isn’t a trans issue. I don’t understand why a website that was created specifically for mums have a large number of men on it.

I understand why childfree women join as there are a lot of threads that are not about parenting. Childfree women will also use the site to get advice on TTC or miscarriage which are women exclusive, in the sense that women are the ones that give birth and also have to go through miscarriage. Men of course will experience child birth and grief but it’s the women, whose bodies have to experience this. Women have a shared experience of being a woman for example starting your period, growing breasts, TTC, miscarriage and menopause. Something that men’s body will never experience. Of course men are entitled to use this site but why should women have to put up with the men that are making sexist goady comments, which they are a lot of.

Should say this post is influenced by a man who told me to fuck off on this site after I called him out on his sexist behaviour.

Sex topic

I get your point but I've seen plenty of horrendous posts clearly from women too so I'm not sure it's exclusively a man thing. Most people gank the mean/bigomist/trad wife type comments I feel

I find it really annoying. My life has (wonderful) men in it. I come to Mumsnet to be with women. I reported that personal attack, BTW. No poster, male or female, is permitted to directly tell another poster to fuck off. It's against the rules of this site.

I agree. Usually if I start reading something and it becomes clear author is a man, I.move on.

Of course I get what you’re saying and agree. But I’m on about why men chose to be on there.

It’s a mystery. I can’t imagine many women would want to be on a site for fathers.

Totally!

It is one of the major places to look for parenting advice (if you Google something parenting related you often get Mumsnet links) and some men at least are actively looking for parenting advice.

Every large forum will also attract trolls with nothing better to do.

Because a lot of the parenting issues apply equally to both parents and this is UKs biggest parenting forum.
(Education, parenting, teenagers etc)

To tell you what they find sexually attractive.
" Bloke here, I really love a thong"
Boak.

I've never seen that 😂

I don’t understand why a website that was created specifically for mums have a large number of men on it.

This where you are going wrong. This website wasn’t created specifically for mums.

I'm not a mum - can still I join Mumsnet?
We hope Mumsnet isn't exclusive to mums and indeed we know we have a number of dads who log on and contribute. If it doesn't sound too pompous we think the concept of “mumming/mothering” goes beyond gender so don't feel Mumsnet is too exclusive. We did think of calling the site parentsnet.com but it just sounded so hideous.

https://www.mumsnet.com/i/faqs#:~:text=We%20do%20have%20Dadsnet%20specifically,having%20a%20male%20joining%20in.

and they post in the same style as a Reddit forum. Not sure why they don’t just stay there

Men are parents too. Also PigletJohn is one of my favourite Mumsnetters.

It’s not called parentsnet though.

Men can be parents too you know.

Because men are parents too.

Yes, men can be parents too. However, men cannot be mums.

Same, some really wonderful men. But, I like you are in here to connect with women. And thank you 😄

But we’re clever enough to see past that.

I've heard something about a male loneliness epidemic.

The ones that come on with their never ending posts moaning about their wives and wanting sympathy do my head in.

Normal men are fine.

The men in the sex topic are creeps.

But they almost never post about parenting issues. Feminism, sex, relationships - yes. Weaning, potty training, juggling work and nursery drop off not so much.

I agree that PigletJohn is an exception but he’s also been here years and so before the creepy men cottoned on to MN.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen them ask for parenting advice. They normally post on Relationships, saying they are having problems in their marriages. If you manage to make it through the thread it’s always that their wife isn’t having enough sex with them. They are hoping for a female pov how to encourage their wives to have sex more

I am a recently retired accountant, was a partner in a big firm. I gave some basic advice to a young woman who had inherited £50k and was unsure what to do for the best. I was challenged by another poster who was financially illiterate, compound interest for example was something they weren’t familiar with. I didn’t respond. Even so they became aggressive and name calling to my astonishment. I did something I have never done before in over 10 years on MN, I did a search on the poster. Turns out from other threads he posted on he was a man in his 60s who watched porn for hours every day but felt he wasn’t addicted and his wife didn’t mind. It just made me feel sick to think this man was attempting to bully me when I was on Mumsnet giving some financial advice.