Woman Gets Schooled After Embarrassing Her Boyfriend For Not Being A "Real Man"
She brought it up during lunch with her parents a few months later, embarrassing him and making him feel less than a man.
Some people do a lot for their partners and still end up being made to feel small.
That is exactly what happened in this Reddit story, where a man who handles most of the housework for his girlfriend was embarrassed after admitting he is not handy around the house. When a bathroom door needed new hinges, he called a friend for help, then later heard his girlfriend repeat the story to her parents in a way that left him feeling humiliated.
His response was quick, petty, and very on brand for Reddit. Read on.
The Reddit user asked, "AITA for doing the absolute minimum chores after my girlfriend's parents implied I wasn't a man, and she agreed with them?"
Reddit / housework1998He explained that his girlfriend works a stressful job, whereas he works from home.
Reddit / housework1998For that reason, the OP happily does most of the household chores to make things easier for his girlfriend.
Reddit / housework1998
However, he says it's no secret that he isn't a great handyman and has occasionally called his friends for help.
Reddit / housework1998
That part was never really the issue.
The OP explained that things became awkward one day during lunch with her parents.
Reddit / housework1998
They were having a conversation about some woodworking her father was doing.
Reddit / housework1998
The man's girlfriend told her parents he had to call a friend to help him replace the door hinges.
Reddit / housework1998
The girlfriend's parents both agreed that every man should know how to do such things.
Reddit / housework1998
Awkward!
Reddit / housework1998
Their comments understandably hurt the OP.
Reddit / housework1998
His girlfriend said it was "embarrassing" that he couldn't do simple handyman tasks.
Reddit / housework1998
The OP said it triggered his anxiety.
Reddit / housework1998
But he had been honest about it from the start.
Reddit / housework1998
So he decided to give her a taste of her own medicine.
This is similar to the AITA where a boyfriend was denied keeping a neglected adopted cat.
So, he decided to give his girlfriend a taste of her own medicine.
Reddit / housework1998
He told her that he would stop doing chores for her so that he could focus on being a "real man."
Reddit / housework1998
Reddit had plenty to say about that move.
Bravo!
Reddit / housework1998
Here's how people reacted.
Reddit / DeepFudge9235
"That gendered thinking is a deal breaker."
Reddit / PICKLESnBILLITH
"You should leave her."
Reddit / FedeRreal
A fair question.
Reddit / rickybobbybobby
"You are in for a painful relationship."
Reddit / Heavy-Sky-1253
"Gendered roles are dumb and outdated."
Reddit / urbanworldbuilder
"It's the 21st century."
Reddit / Nessie51
"I'd do no housework at all."
Reddit / adisturbed1
"Fixing things is not just a man's job."
Reddit / Majestic-Leopard-563
"Hopefully she'll be your ex-GF soon."
Reddit / ollieastic
That's what the Yellow Pages are for!
Reddit / Hour_Baby_7336
"A real woman doesn't question her man."
Reddit / The_Hounded24
What's your take on this situation? Do you think this man needs to run from this relationship while he still can, or is his girlfriend right about this?
We think the OP sounds like a lovely boyfriend, and his girlfriend should consider herself lucky! Is it really that important that he's not an epic handyman?
We always love to hear from you. You can share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
That dinner table comment may have done more damage than she expected.
For another relationship blowup, read about the girlfriend who moved without her boyfriend and left him out of the decision.
