The trending topic of 'women in male fields' on TikTok has garnered significant attention, bringing to light the difficulties many women face when dating men and inspiring men to add their spin to the phenomenon. The hashtag #womeninmalefields comprises a combination of humorous responses to men and dark humour where women highlight inappropriate behaviours exhibited by men.
Since the trend emerged, women have been sharing their experiences with unhealthy relationship patterns from men while humorously speculating on the outcomes if they behaved similarly, all set to the beat of Nicki Minaj's “Anaconda.”
The #womeninmalefields trend has captured the curiosity of internet users, creating a desire to delve deeper into it. Its goal is to reveal men’s mistreatment of women and their mistakes in relationships or daily interactions. The trend's rise in popularity has fostered a sense of solidarity and recognition among women.
What is the essence of this trend?
The 'women in male fields' trend has empowered women to articulate the toxic behaviours they've encountered from men while dating—including infidelity, compromising for in-laws, and neglecting emotional needs. Additionally, women are leveraging this trend to highlight issues of physical and sexual abuse. One person discussed club culture where men ignore boundaries, stating, “I grabbed his waist without consent while passing him in the club because if he’s at the club, he’s fair game.”
Another shared, “I found myself on the ground, crying uncontrollably after my infidelity.” Meanwhile, another person humorously commented about vanishing unexpectedly. Women frequently feel compelled to compromise within their in-laws’ homes, even when they are uncomfortable with how they are treated.
An influencer addressed this outdated custom by stating, “When a guy complains about his in-laws treating him poorly, I remind him that marriage demands compromise, and he ought to adapt for his contentment.” Another video depicted a moment, “He was crying in bed, so I thought, ‘Here we go again’ and turned over to sleep.” The comments section quickly filled with others sharing akin experiences, with one user exclaiming, “ARE WE ALL DATING THE SAME MEN?”
How is social media responding to this movement?
This trend illustrates that users are genuinely enjoying the 'women in male fields' phenomenon. An Instagram user remarked, “What I appreciate most about this trend is witnessing men getting upset and completely misinterpreting the message.” Another commenter observed, “The men voicing complaints in the comments only emphasise their anxiety about facing the same treatment women receive now. Rather than reflecting on their privilege and the prevailing inequality, they are solely thinking of themselves, as usual… It’s truly unfortunate.”
This phenomenon emerged on TikTok only a few days ago and has swiftly gained popularity on Instagram as well. The hashtag #meninfemaleelds is also gaining traction, with men discussing their negative experiences with women. Nevertheless, some individuals have pointed out that the trend goes beyond just making light of contemporary dating; it also aims to validate many women’s feelings.
Many women are realising that the behaviours they've accepted are common experiences. One TikToker encapsulated the trend's significance by saying, “The 'women in male fields' trend is showing women that it’s not our fault.” “It acts as a subtle reference for spotting red flags,” commented another user.
To join in on the internet's humour, men have initiated a counter-trend called "men in female fields." A lot of men have shared their dating stories on social media "Nonetheless, she stays calm, which only frustrates me more #meninfemaleelds." Another person commented, "When she asks where I want to eat and I respond with [I don’t know], she starts suggesting different restaurants, which irritates me, and I ultimately decline every option." While men have contributed their relatable situations to the discussion, many have also expressed their support in the comments, uniting under the #meninfemaleelds tag to emphasise that questionable behaviours exist on both sides.
Though some playful interactions between genders can be innocuous, numerous men are taking this opportunity to post derogatory remarks and disrespect women who attempt to share their experiences related to the trend. This, in turn, reinforces the rationale behind the trend's emergence. Consequently, we now see the 'women in male-dominated fields' movement, subtly addressing the breadcrumbing and beige flag advocates in all their glory.
Views expressed by the author are their own.
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