Absolutely.

Yeah… don’t love the “women will be actively trying to ruin your life”–angle.

However, it’s a good idea to let him know that some potential partners will have bad/manipulative intentions, no matter the gender, and how to look out for that.

I made no mention of my kid’s orientation, so… make of that what you will. Lol

Non-stop?

His point isn’t wrong

Women will baby-trap the living fuck out of young men. He NEEDS to know this.

The above sentence is the one I’m taking a stand against. The rest was fine up until that.

It absolutely happens, no doubt! Never disagreed with that!

But putting out such a general statement like “women will baby-trap you!” is such a broad statement. Statements like that are often used to stir up hostility and is a common tactic used in spaces that are anti-women.

Me saying “men will assault you!” would not be acceptable and would get me attacked and downvoted to hell. It’s astounding to me that statements like this about women are supported.

A lot of the social expectations of the time pressured young people to marry and have children as soon as they were out of school. You didn’t even have to like your partner– as long as you adhere to what is expected of you, otherwise you’ll bring shame onto your family. Being “othered” by your community could lead to losing jobs/promotions, social ostracization, bullying, etc.

So you do what is expected of you, even if it’s not what you want. You have regrets about the life you could have had. You get bitter. You get angry. You lash out at your wife and children, blaming them for why you couldn’t do something else, be somewhere else, or live the life you truly wanted without all of these “expectations”: work a job where you are miserable to make money to buy a home and support your new family, give up your hobbies, your friends, your time, even your identity… for what? To live a life you really didn’t even want?

Now you expect your children to do the same. Go through the same thing. Because it’s “tradition”. It’s just what you do! An artist?? You can’t support a family on that!! Why don’t you get a better job?? Why are you wasting your life by not making enough money?? You expect to raise a family on this salary?? You don’t want a family?? What are you, gay??? What will the neighbors think???

WHY ARE YOU NOT SACRIFICING YOUR FUTURE TO UPHOLD “THE NORM” LIKE I DID??? DO YOU THINK THAT YOU’RE BETTER THAN ME??? I WORKED MY ASS OFF TO KEEP A GOOD NAME AND LOOK NORMAL AND YOU WANT TO RUIN IT ALL??? MAKE LIKE ALL MY HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE WAS FOR NOTHING???

…

Some of them just can’t be happy unless you do what was expected of them, as well. Doesn’t matter how much things have changed. You need to sacrifice yourself in order to achieve. If you don’t… you’re “lazy”, “selfish”, and all that.

They’re angry because you get to make choices, while they were pressured into their life– a life they never wanted/weren’t prepared for.

I’m more shocked at the amount of upvotes the comment has.

Women will baby-trap the living fuck out of young men. He NEEDS to know this.

Was with you until this line. C’mon now.

No no! I just get frustrated with myself for not always being able to provide proper resources for him.

I do appreciate the help! Thank you.

Might go low-tech and just stick my arm in with a flashlight or something.

The typical conservative has a black-and-white view of sex and gender norms. “A man provides for his household and a women cares for the children”–type of thing, with very unhealthy views on sex, sexuality, and gendered expectations.

Hell, I was told that it was my “purpose” to one day marry, have children, and dote on my husband’s every whim, and that, as a woman, it should be my desire.

Another big thing is healthy boundaries, consent, and other things. Many believe in “the chase”, how women need to “submit to their husband”, slut-shaming, the “”“proper manly emotions”“” (hint: the only acceptable emotion is anger!), and those are just a few issues.

It’s not healthy, and I’m not going to risk someone teaching that kind of thing to my kid.

EDIT: Downvote this if you want, but I was raised in a conservative town by a conservative family with conservative values and hung out in conservative spaces that left me scarred and traumatized. Sorry if it hurts your feelings knowing that a majority of conservatives beliefs are harmful and shitty! (:

1. Why do you think I don’t know anything? Lol So that’s not a worry.
2. That’s what I’m trying to fix.

Unfortunately, I do not have any close male friends, so I may need to address things myself.

I live in a conservative area and do not trust folks to educate him from those angles.

Absolutely. I respect his privacy.

Sometimes he wears headphones in his room and I do have to crack the door to have him respond. Is that okay?

“Oki’s Weird Stories” is so very good.

Also “Shaun” and very much “Shanspeare” are great, if you’re looking for long-form content.

I keep thinking of more, so I’m just going to list them here:

AustinMcConnell, BobbyBroccoli, Dime Store Adventures, Fredrick Knudsen, Jenny Nicholson (already mentioned here many times!), Ahoy, Kid Leaves Stoop, Lady Emily, Sarah Z, Moon Channel, Paper Will, Soup Emporium.