Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Why do you enjoy being a woman?

181 replies

OrderOnline · 27/02/2018 19:36

I am happy I was born female. I just am.Smile

OP posts:
flowersonthepiano · 28/02/2018 13:27

Ok. Mostly, I feel fairly neutral about being a woman. I like being a mum, but actually think I would have preferred being a dad. Can't say I enjoyed pregnancy or childbirth and as for feckin menstruation...

DH was a SAHP for a bit, and I loved being the one coming home to a DS who was sooo excited to see Mummmmy!! I didn't much enjoy being a SAHP when I did it myself.

I am glad that being female means that noone appears to expect me to be able to do DIY. I'm crap at it. So is DH, but some people (e.g., my parents) expect him to be able to sort it out if a tap's leaking or something.

Also, what a couple of PPs said about not being found threatening as a woman, that's a good thing.

Bexter801 · 28/02/2018 13:31

Hmm interesting question,I'm sitting here wondering why I like being a woman....my favourite answer on here,is definitely the multiple orgasms one. Also I have 2 sons(product of multiple orgasms!),that I can't believe I produced(yes had a bit of help!),but these handsome,clever,funny 2 young men....I gave birth to,and single handidly raised. Then there's my boobs,I'm very grateful also for these wonderful creations :)

ErinSophia · 28/02/2018 13:34

Motherhood
Having my hair and nails done

BillywigSting · 28/02/2018 13:41

I frequently say to myself I'm coming back in the next life as a man because it just looks so much easier.

So I'm pretty ambivalent towards it I suppose.

I don't exactly dislike being a woman but resent things like periods and having to be the one who's body is destroyed carrying babies etc.

I'm not best pleased about the massive difference in effort required for me to look 'presentable' compared to a man.

The evening before a night out with dp is filled with him sipping tea waiting for me to finish faffing with hair and makeup and trying on eleventy billion different outfits trying to find one that's appropriate and grumbling about it profusely.

Then he swans off for a ten minute shower, two minutes to tidy his beard and puts on a shirt and pants.

It's not fair! stamps foot

I quite like feeling pretty and wearing sparkly things, though I don't think it should be something only women can do (ds for example absolutely loves my sparkly hat with flowers on it. It suits him too.)

MattBerrysHair · 28/02/2018 13:42

Since I don't know any different I can't really say. I can list all the things I don't like about being a woman: periods, misogyny, morning sickness etc. but I can't think of anything that is wonderfully and exclusively female apart from pregnancy and breast feeding, which I found very stressful and taxing, and wouldn't want to reduce myself to that. I am me and that is good. I like being me. I am a resilient, short, sexy, a nurturing parent, funny, anxious, intelligent, hard working, occasionally grumpy, socially awkward, imaginative, introverted person. None of that is down to me being female.

ChristmasAddict · 28/02/2018 13:44

The only way in which I feel attached to being a woman in a positive way is the fact that I grew a human being. I don't think I will ever get over how incredible that is.

LanaorAna2 · 28/02/2018 13:47

I haven't had children but I love being a woman because I love nurturing and looking after - you get much closer to people when you're female.

Female friendship

Emotional intelligence in a greater measure

Being incredibly good at what I do at work and having great bosoms

Body that's all silky and soft and undulating, not hairy and knobbly

Being single and free and able to please myself, rather than a lonely bachelor who drinks too much

Fashion, scent and novels.

theEagleIsLost · 28/02/2018 13:53

I don't know where woman begins and me ends.

Only postive thing I can think is motherhood - the role and closeness to children rather than pg, birth.

I didn't enjoy pg or birth - though I got lucky and got a break from heavy painful periods and more luck that when periods came back there weren't anywhere near as bad.

It’s a role that for me has come with huge constraints and downsides but overall is positive.

However DH has a great relationship with DC and gets to enjoy them but does seem to enjoy fewer downsides to parenthood – so perhaps fatherhood is equally good and easier – I don’t know.

natureshaped · 28/02/2018 13:59

My DH would have been pregnant but just to give me a break. I made him promise to have the next one Grin

ScrambledSmegs · 28/02/2018 14:04

I made 2 people.

Everything else is just 'stuff I like about being a human'.

therealposieparker · 28/02/2018 14:35

Carrying and having my four children. Everything else is just human.

BeyondDeadlySiren · 28/02/2018 15:00

Actually I'm gonna join @OlennasWimple - I did enjoy giving birth. Pregnancy and babyhood not so much, but the birth bit (especially for ds2) was great.

DeleteOrDecay · 28/02/2018 16:05

I frequently say to myself I'm coming back in the next life as a man because it just looks so much easier.

I think this too. Either a man or a cat. I think the cat just about edges it for me.

I didn't really enjoy pregnancy and I thought I was dying during childbirth but I can't quite believe my body made two actual, living, breathing people from just an egg and a sperm. For some reason I just really struggle to get my head round it, even though it's biology 101.

LassWiADelicateAir · 28/02/2018 17:25

The post above sounds like it was written by a man pretending to be a woman

This sort of comment is tiresome. It is getting very close to saying there is a correct way of being a woman and it is your way.

For example there are many posts on here about the magic and mystery of motherhood (I'm paraphrasing before some one leaps into say no one said that) I am definitely female and definitely a mother and very little of those posts resonate with me.

I enjoyed being pregnant (presumably all hormones aligned correctly) but gestating young and giving birth is simply a natural function of all female mammals. Those of you think differently are not wrong for feeling that way but neither am I for thinking the way I do.

There was no need to pick apart the poster's comment.

LastGirlOnTheLeft · 28/02/2018 18:18

Definitely female friendships. I also like being part of a group of people who to me, are incredible survivors. Women just keep going, no matter what men and life throws at them. If I were a man, I can't think I would feel much affinity with other men, seeing how they behave.

And yes, growing and having children - after each one of my children was born I was in total awe of the incredible female body.

thebewilderness · 28/02/2018 19:52

*The post above sounds like it was written by a man pretending to be a woman

This sort of comment is tiresome. It is getting very close to saying there is a correct way of being a woman and it is your way.*

You are entitled to your opinion. Getting close? That is a bizarre accusation to make. She almost said something? But didn't.
The comment ticked almost every MRA talking point. Not close. Spot on.

TheBatPig · 28/02/2018 20:10

I find the question a little odd. But I understand why.

I don't like being a woman. Like it less since being pregnant and becoming a mum. There's the physical health side (that I have suffered) and then the social expectation side. Partner (child's dad) gets much admiration for babysitting??? Or looking after her whilst I'm away. I do it...no comment. Nothing unusual.

It's almost worse than the physical toll to be honest. The older I get, the less happy I am at being "treated as a woman". God only knows why some people covet this.

natureshaped · 28/02/2018 20:15

'dad gets much admiration for babysitting or looking after her whilst I'm away. I do it...no comment. 😂 I hear you!

amypars · 28/02/2018 20:18

more outfit options & giving birth!

LassWiADelicateAir · 28/02/2018 20:22

You are entitled to your opinion. Getting close? That is a bizarre accusation to make. She almost said something? But didn't
The comment ticked almost every MRA talking point. Not close. Spot on

Bewilderness you accused runawaywithme being a man. I didn't see anything in her post to justify you saying that. I agreed with bits of it. May be I'm a man too.

Todayissunny · 28/02/2018 20:23

I think I would prefer to be a man.

relaxitllbeok · 28/02/2018 20:26

Lots of good points, here, but... Those of you who have children, what was your first thought on finding out the sex of your first child? I had, in advance, been quite nervous about the possibility of having a boy, since being a boy was further from my experience. Still, when I found out DC1 was a boy, my very first rush of feeling was relief that my child was going to have the easier path in life, not the harder. To me that says it all.

Todayissunny · 28/02/2018 20:29

I've made a lot of life choices that I wouldn't have made if I wasn't a woman. Because of societyies expectations of women i suppose.

Todayissunny · 28/02/2018 20:32

Thrilled and relieved he is a boy. I have 3 boys. I was so worried about having a princess barbie loving girl. I would have struggled with that.

Italiangreyhound · 28/02/2018 20:36

I thought my dd was going to be a boy as a friend was so sure.

When she was a girl, I was delighted. I had wanted a girl. Now I have a girl and a boy and I love them both equally.