"unemployed" is often used as an insult against men

peanutbutterjams · 2022-03-17T00:04:42+00:00

“Virgin” and “you’ve never spoken to a women before” are equally ridiculous insults. I get them pretty frequently despite being a woman

B225AKP · 2022-03-17T01:26:35+00:00

It certainly feels as a long term unemployed man that women tend to be helped much more and much quicker than I have. Maybe that’s my paranoia breaking through though. I don’t really care. I just want some help getting out of the hole I’ve fallen into but it feels like my value as a man has never been lower.

2022-03-17T04:00:44+00:00

Minimum wage is also used as an insult

2022-03-17T07:58:23+00:00

you are aware that once men cant provide or have any form of romantic conquest with women , or have small Ds , its automatically used as an insult even if they guy is actually still stable,and considering the fact that feminist are very likely to also use this insult, its pretty ironic considering viewing men in this light is essentially upholding the patriachy and yet they are willing to do it

peanutbutterjams · 2022-03-17T01:45:50+00:00

Yes. It's implied in "loser", "slacker", "lay-a-bout", "good-for-nothing", "lazy" and "useless", some of of which are far more likely to be applied to men than women.

It's men's job to work and to provide. We live in a deeply female chauvinist society so it tracks that insults directed towards men will rely on traditional gender norms because feminists aren't interested in freeing men from gender norms that benefit women.

boomboxspence · 2022-03-17T08:02:48+00:00

Yeah and because being a provider is traditionally what women look for in men and so it's saying you're unattractive to women which a lot of insults towards men do

PassedPawn_ · 2022-03-16T23:31:51+00:00

Perhaps not due to the provider role but a similar one which is about men being independent agents: not being employed means you're likely dependent on someone/something else which may be off-putting for a lot of people.

LettuceBeGrateful · 2022-03-17T00:15:22+00:00

Yep, it's a perfect example of men as human doings instead of human beings.

Kozure_Ookami · 2022-03-17T11:09:11+00:00

It's much more socially acceptable for a women to solely live off a man's income.

themolestedsliver · 2022-03-17T16:18:21+00:00

Yeah it's like not wanting to go on a date with a women because "she's only a cashier". (I don't agree with this just playing devils advocate)

I know numerous people who wouldn't blink if that was said about a guy but saying it about a women makes people do a double take.

2022-03-17T04:11:25+00:00

They’re insinuating the person has Asperger’s or autism

BloomingBrains · 2022-03-17T07:12:40+00:00

If I ever go back to dating, I'm going to be discerning about women that have good jobs. Its a completely reasonable thing to be concerned about. I don't want to be stuck as the sole workslave--especially in this economy. Plus having a good job shows other character traits: intelligence, determination, etc. Why should men be the only ones that have to live up to such virtues, and why should women be the only ones to benefit from their partners having a good job?

Not to make it sound as if saying "unemployed neckbeard" isn't usually pure slander, of course. People that say that love their little fantasy about certain kinds of men being social leeches since it makes them feel better about hating/dismissing them for no reason.

No_Weekend_5779 · 2022-03-16T23:09:56+00:00

Women who have never held a job are a red flag what are you talking about

Maephia · 2022-03-16T23:31:30+00:00

I never really saw it as an insult, but when people want to insult they usually refer to things that they find unattractive. Being unemployed is in fact unattractive to women, which I mean, I can't really fault them for it. Although personally I don't care if someone is unemployed if they can sustain themselves somehow (like savings or passive income).

InitiatePenguin · 2022-03-17T00:09:36+00:00

Has anyone else noticed this. Oftentimes I run into phrases like "he's just an unemployed neckbeard".

I mean, the insult in that sentence in "neckbeard". And the implication is already that neckbeards don't work - they play video games in their mom's basement.

Is there more stigma around men being out of work? Yeah. Is that word itself being used as gendered insult? Not in the way you suggest.

vhisic · 2022-03-17T05:58:14+00:00

unemployed isnt just a male insult, it certainly swings both ways, you probably do find it used against males more often as like you mentioned not being able to provide is seen as a major failing for men, but to say its never used against women is incorrect, you see it used against say single mothers fairly often, its an insult on your ability provide, you wouldn't use it on a some trust fund kid as an insult because being employed would be the insult to them.

RockmanXX · 2022-03-16T23:19:52+00:00

If that's an insult, it has to be the most polite insult towards men i've heard so far.

Edit: Wow, so many downvotes lol I still Stand by my comment. Calling men unemployed is very polite compared to calling them a Broke Loser, Deadbeat or a Lazy Bum.

Cad_Cam_CNC · 2022-03-16T23:23:13+00:00

The only person forcing yourself into a provider role is yourself. When you turn 18 the only responsibility should be yourself, if you decide to get married and have kids that responsibility is on you and no one else.