How Women Are Taught to Let Them Be the Breadwinner

We had to LOL at this post about how women are taught to ‘let’ them be the breadwinner even though it’s biologically impossible to be both.

It originally appeared on Womanista.

Although I am not actively married, I am single, and work very hard to be a successful and successful young professional. I work even harder because I have two young children and a large amount of motherhood to juggle. Therefore, there are very few times when I don’t have to have a good braintrust/team/organizational skills.

I can make my way through the boss’s (woman’s) office in less than 5 minutes. I send an email, while going from one thing to the next, ’cause they say men make more efficient emails. I can navigate a coffee table/basket with ease. I can make my way through the most complicated board meeting structure to get someone at the head of the table to agree on the opinion that I’ve brought to the table. I can change a lock. I can make my way to the other side of the room (without a bump) to work on another project and do something that can be done by 50%. I can make my way to the middle of the group to join in on an important plan. I can never actually say ‘no’ when someone asks me to take on something.

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I can stop to go to the bathroom when someone asks for it. I can sit next to someone as they are typing/writing something (in front of me) as opposed to trying to face you in conversation, and I can make my way to the sink with my cup of tea to start the project that I’m currently making (where once I needed to ask my boss for permission or for help).

I can stand in line while someone else is eating their sandwich, wait to purchase a separate meal, and pay for it myself. I can ask for help from people I don’t even know, because I am a woman, and people will hear me out, and help, as opposed to being heard out and help denied. I can have my own car, even though it takes way more time to pump gas for myself. I can sit and relax in the car while everyone else drives, rather than worrying about what I’m supposed to do, and fixing myself my own cup of coffee in another vehicle. I can make some ‘baked’ brownies for the evening, without having to make any milkshakes, because no one will judge me for the action I’m taking.

I can go to the toilet without getting out of the car, and worry about it a little bit. I can walk to the restaurant without a problem. I can do things with the ‘leap of faith’ that things will work out, even though it is not in my control.

I can wipe my hands without worrying if I’m doing it incorrectly. I can close the door behind me without it being awkward and embarrassing. I can pick things up, and not worry if I’m putting my hands in the wrong places. I can move the kettle at the bottom of the bath so that it doesn’t take ages to reheat when I’m done (and there’s a 10-minute window so I can do it once). I can move the salad plate so that it doesn’t stick to the sink. I can get up from the table if I need to sit down. I can have a cup of tea before I started having a cup of tea. I can do it all. I can have a boyfriend without being pissed off. I can be a woman who earns, works, and has kids with this one exception: I can never, ever, EVER let someone tell me that I’ve got it easy, because every single woman I know in this situation feels that exact same way.

I can do this.

It is very rare that I am ‘miserable’ or even unpleasant when someone tells me what I can and can’t do. How could I be when I don’t have a choice but to be a good daughter, mother, wife, sister, and human with a boss who is the most amazing mother to her, loves her like a sister, and would do anything for her, and is there for me when I need it most?

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.