Can one gender live without the other? The answer is complicated. With more women than ever going #boysober and swearing off relations with a man, the question is being raised more often. Ultimately, it may be easier for women to live without men. While men are traditional “providers,” there are many strong women who both provide for their households and have powerful social bonds with other women. On the other hand, men often overlook the domestic or emotional labor that women perform.
Is there one important caveat to consider? The existence of men allows for reproduction. However, since the world we live in is already quite overpopulated, this is the only downside from a biological standpoint.
Here are all the ways that it would be easier for women to live without men.
1.They have stronger social networks
Many men struggle to establish meaningful relationships with other men that extend beyond superficial interactions. They often rely on female romantic partners for emotional well-being, making it difficult for them to live without women. Women, however, are more likely to have deeper social bonds with both their friends and family. This support system will make it easier to survive. As the saying goes—it takes a village…of women!
2. Single moms prove that women can be providers, too
The gender stereotype of men as hunters and women as gatherers has been disproven, and so should the myth that only men can be providers.Women have natural maternal instincts, making them great caretakers. Strong single women and single mothers have proven time and time again that women can be high earners while offering emotional support for themselves and their families.
3. Men rely on women for emotional needs
Women are 1.6 times more likely to get mental health treatment than men, who experience emotional repression due to toxic masculinity and other factors. Men often rely on women for emotional support. Women often rely on themselves and their support network of other women or go to therapy without feeling the shame and stigma that men do.
4. They can satisfy themselves with the right tools
Many men lament the fact that they can’t live without the sensual touch of a woman. But thanks to the technological advances of vibrators and pleasure products, women can happily satisfy themselves without the existence of a man. In fact, when you think about the pleasure gap, they’re actually more likely to be satisfied on their own!
5. Men have trouble managing the household
We’re sure there are plenty of single dads out there doing a great job, but historically, women have independently managed many aspects of the household on their own.
6. Women are natural peacemakers
Male leaders are responsible for much of the violence in the world and for many of the wars. Women are naturally empathetic, solution-oriented people who don’t think primarily with their egos. This isn’t just a skill in day-to-day life, but if we lived in a society without men, it could have greater implications for world peace!
From a social and practical perspective, women have been socialized to be more self-sufficient than men in many ways in these invisible forms of labor, as well as raising children and reaching career ambitions without any help.
On the other hand….
There is a very real gender bias that shows women earn less than men. Because women have to work twice as hard (especially women of color) and still often earn less than a man in many fields, it may be difficult for a single woman to earn as much as a single man and hence support herself and her family at the same level.
That said, when you consider all the unpaid emotional and domestic labor that married women or women with male partners complete on a daily basis, there are still so many ways that women uplift the men in their lives and have the strength to live independently.
It’s important to acknowledge that no person “needs” a partner of any gender to have a fulfilling life. If you focus on being an independent person who’s surrounded by a solid network of friends and family, you can achieve anything!