11 Things Strong Women Are Sick To Death Of Hearing (So Please Stop Saying Them)

When you’re a strong woman, you’re bound to come across some backlash. Why? Because society sees a woman who’s powerful as a threat, and how do we deal with threats? We take them down. For strong, independent women, this takes the shape of micro-aggressions that come out via questions and/or comments. Here are just 11 of the things that strong women are sick to death of hearing and wish people would stop saying.

  1. “Cheer up, love!” Firstly, I’m fine. Secondly, if I wasn’t fine, then that sure doesn’t help.
  2. “Oh, I could loosen you up.” Gross. And I don’t need loosening. And I don’t need you to do it. Now if you could take your machoism to the other side of the room so I can get on with my work, that’d be great.
  3. “You must be single.” I don’t think that’s any of your business, really.
  4. “I bet you’re fun at a party.” Tons, actually! After my 9 – 5 job (which, by the way, I kick ass at), I put on a clown costume and dance around for idiots like you. Wanna see?
  5. “You don’t have to be such a bitch about it.” How many times are we called a “bitch” just for speaking our minds, being direct or blunt, or simply for taking charge? If you can imagine a man doing the same thing, and not being called a “bitch” for it, then why am I? Back. The. Hell. Off.
  6. “You mustn’t have many friends.” Actually, strong women tend to make the best of friends. The thing is, in this day and age, it is possible to be a strong woman and surround yourself with people who respect and admire her. Because, you know, we’re not all from the Middle Ages anymore. I know, I know – The shock! The horror!
  7. “You must waste all your time at work.” Where do you waste all your time? The supermarket? At home watching the “kids”? The mall?
  8. “When are you going to settle down?” Whenever the hell I want. Thanks.
  9. “How do you handle it all?” Like anyone else does, I guess? Why? Is there some male-only rule to juggling life’s stresses like a boss?
  10. “You got lucky.” Those 10 years at college, countless late nights, and working three jobs to pay my way through it all sure didn’t feel like luck.
  11. “What made you decide to go into [insert career here]?” I made my choice like you made your choice. A mix of personal interest, mixed with a good hard look at the job market, and a smidgeon of naivety.
Sarah is a full-time content marketer, part-time freelancer. She’s a serial hobbyist (which just means that she does a lot of random things, but none of them particularly well). Her real talent lies in her ability to consume copious amounts of wine, whilst discussing feminism and reading A Song of Ice and Fire for the 8th time... All while saving puppies from burning houses, of course. You can see more of her work here, or pop over to Twitter and say “‘ello ‘ello” @daughterdipstik
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