25+ Women With Brothers Are Revealing How Their Parents Treated Them Differently as Kids, Just Because They Were Girls

This article appeared in fabcrunch.com and has been published here with permission.

As much as we’d like to think it’s in the past, chauvinism and misogyny are unfortunately alive and well on the planet right now. Many women have dealt with different treatment over the years compared to the men they knew, lived, and worked with. These women all shared some of their experiences growing up alongside brothers and some of the differences they saw in how they were treated.

"Boys Being Boys"

If there's one phrase that many women can't help but roll their eyes at or even recoil at hearing, it's the phrase, "Boys will be boys."

This phrase has been used time and time again to excuse inappropriate behavior from boys and men directed towards women and girls. This OP heard it really young when she was picked on by her brothers. Yet, if she did the same thing, it was a punishable offense.

An Unfair Perspective

You can really tell, especially when you look back on growing up, that some were considered "for boys" and some were considered "for girls."

For instance, like this woman, you might have shown an interest in dance or music and seen it treated differently than your brother's interest in sports. She never forgot that her brother never had to go to her recitals but she had to go to every one of his games.

Is It Really?

If you want to get a tattoo before you're 18 years old, you have to get parental permission. A shop isn't going to let you get a tattoo underage.

When this OP's brother was 16 years old, he wanted a tattoo. It took almost no convincing until Dad approved. Later, he didn't do the same for his daughter. Why? Well, he was pretty upfront about why he treated them differently.

Unnecessary Commentary

Aside from physically limiting themselves when it comes to food, women also have to deal with unwelcome comments.

This woman watched their brothers eat everything in the house and that was never a problem because, after all, they were growing boys. On the other hand, if you're 6'2", you'd need just as much food to nourish you right? Not according to this OP's parents.