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Women Share The Times They Had To Explain Something They Thought Was Well-Known To Their Partner (45 Answers)
Ignorance might be bliss, but only if you are not bothered by half the planet thinking you are a moron. But the “fun” part of ignorance is often not actually knowing how little you know until that illusion is broken by another person explaining something.
Women on the internet shared the times they had to explain something they thought was relatively well-known to their partners. So scroll through and be sure to upvote the most unbelievable examples women gave. If you have a similar tale, please share it in the comments, you might even end up teaching someone something.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
not my partner, but just another man, but i feel that a lot of men think this way. he didn’t believe catcalling happened, or at least was _really_ rare, because he had never seen it happen and he hangs out with girls all the time
we informed him that was because no one was going to catcall a girl who was hanging out with a 6’3” 230 lb black man.
Take me to dinner first 2 years ago
I don't believe in murder because no one ever murdered anyone in front of me
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#2
That not everyone likes hugs or having their personal space invaded. My daughter and I do not like being touched but I am okay with him invading mine however my daughter is different. I had to explain to him that my daughter really does not like being hugged or having her hand held which he never thought of because his kids all love it. He said he felt really bad and apologized to her. He made her promise that if he ever does anything she dislikes she needs to tell him.
Gwenaëlle Michaelis 2 years ago
That's really a good thing that he apologized to her and let her be honnest on what she feels ! I like it
#3
My ex once saw some leftover period blood in my underwear; it was kinda dark reddish brown. He was super grossed out asking if I shat myself. I explained old blood was brown. He was disgusted. Anyway, he's an ex. LOL.
Starting from the top, pockets. For men they are an afterthought, indeed, some pants even have too many, like that small, thin inner one made famous by Steve Jobs and the iPod nano in 2005. As a man, I can say that I have never used it in my entire life, which seems like an unfathomable luxury for women who tend to have, at best, some rear pockets. So the natural question is why this discrepancy?
There are a few theories. One is that it’s a result of post-war fashion trends where women's clothing needed to have a “slimmer” appearance. A quick and easy trick was to simply remove them altogether or at least make them so small as to be practically useless. The result is that even now, on an average selection of women's jeans, the pockets are roughly 48% shorter and 6.5% narrower than men's.
#4
A partner told me that women and girls shouldn’t fart. I had to explain that we have a digestive system that produces gas just like men.
#5
He was in the bathroom with me while I was changing my tampon and he was like "There's no such thing as a stupid question, right?" And I was like no, of course not, ask away. In the most quiet, shy voice I've ever heard him use, he asks: "so.. does it feel even a little bit pleasurable when you put it in?" I'm his first girlfriend. it was honestly really cute
Susan Robinson 2 years ago
I think it’s good and healthy to ask questions as it builds trust. I kinda like this one
#6
That I wasn’t cheating on him.. he was seeing vaginal discharge in my underwear
*facepalm*
Gwenaëlle Michaelis 2 years ago
What the f**k ? But to be honnest, as a girl nobody never explained to me that girls has vaginal discharge, and I learned it the hard way when I felt like I was peeing myself in school !
Another factor may have been the development of clothing since the medieval ages. At the time, ropes around the waist had the function of a belt, so to carry around items, special bags were created that you could simply hang from your waist. By the 17th century, these pouches started to be added directly onto the item of clothing. But as women's fashion shifted to more layers, these same pockets were “unnecessary,” which also led to the invention of the handbag. To find out more, check out our article about this topic here.
#7
My ex said it was 'cringe' that I use panty liners. He kept complaining about it to me, saying I should stop using them. I said no each time. Then he got pissed and said, 'You probably get wet all the time — that's why you have to use them!' and I was like: 'Seriously? You're getting a PhD, and you don't even know the female body? It's normal to have discharge for women, and it has nothing to do with being horny.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 2 years ago
Discharge is suuuper annoying. I hate pads but I also hate feeling like a pissed myself so it’s just a whole situation.
#8
I had to explain to my boyfriend, who was very much annoyed by the fact that my period came and went as it pleased, that I can't just manually regulate it myself to make it punctual each month. It was...an experience for sure. Made me realize I indeed should have sued my period for being so unreliable (how dare it?! It be your own, fellas)
#9
1. You can’t spot reduce fat with specific foods or specific workouts. You can isolate muscle groups to increase mass, for sure! But fat leaves where it wants to leave and there’s no cheat code that broccoli has that allows it to pew pew away belly fat. 2. No, the vaccine did not make you magnetic. It’s scientifically impossible for an injection of that size, *even if it was pure ferromagnetic metal*, to hold up a magnet. Your skin is sticky and would also hold up a piece of plastic. Besides, why put a tracker in you when you do it for free by carrying a cellphone.
On a lighter note, why are eggs often in the dairy section? While this misunderstanding isn’t exclusive to women or men, it might be useful to know how this decision was originally made. The most common explanation is that both generally need refrigeration. However, this is an American regulation, as many countries do not actually require eggs to be kept cold. And even if this rule exists, why are they not kept with the meat? The real explanation might be that eggs are fragile, just like many dairy products and their containers. Since fragile and non-fragile items won’t be moved together, it makes some sense that these two would just end up together.
#10
Why women put their phones in their back pockets. He was shocked when I stuck my hand down a front pocket to demonstrate how shallow it was.
#11
That it’s not normal to drip pee outside of the toilet, and if you do, you either need to clean it up or start sitting down
Gandalf the Pink 2 years ago
Is it worth it to stand up to pee at home? Esp. when living with someone else? Because if you miss, either you're a butt and don't clean, or just paper and water isn't gonna remove all the urine. So then you gotta get a sponge and and some bathroom cleaning solution all while you could have just rested your legs for a minute sitting down.
#12
All the precautions I take when going out at night. He didn’t have a clue how many rules we memorize like (check the back seat, jump in and immediately lock the doors, ignore anything found on your windshields or windows, etc.)
Pink Princess 2 years ago (edited)
Am I the only girl who doesn’t feel unsafe at night? Edit: Glad I’m not the only one. It’s so sad reading all the women who feel unsafe at night so your replies cheered me up a bit
Another common theme and divergence in experience is how commonly women experience catcalling versus how infrequently men even hear it. The global statistics are not pretty, with nearly all women in Mumbai, India having experienced it at least once, while in Australia the proportion was 87%. Some women experience it significantly more, as roughly 35% of UK women say they are catcalled or similarly harassed at least once a month.
#13
Women can't hold their menstrual fluid in like you do with urine. At the time I explained this, we were in our early twenties and he was well-educated with a college degree. He's also very, very intelligent. I was utterly gobsmacked he didn't know this.
Karin Jansen 2 years ago
What did he think tampons and pads are for then I wonder? 😅 Or did he just think we're all too lazy to hold it in?
#14
My ex-partner believed that abuse only existed under the guise of physically assaulting someone. He assumed that just because he wasn't hitting me, he was a great catch that I was lucky to have.
Some of the examples here are also particularly humorous, albeit a bit sad because they actually apply to both genres. Peeing after intercourse is important for both a man and a woman in the sense that it can help protect you from a UTI (urinary tract infection, in case this is all news to you,) however, it will not help with pregnancy or STDs. So stay safe. In general, the amount of ignorance about the human body is staggering, given the amount of interest many people have in actually seeing someone’s body. It’s like saving all year to go to a museum, then refusing the audio guide or any research at all. If you want to see some more examples of things women have to deal with, check out Bored Panda’s other article here.
#16
My husband, as an adult, did not know that the male gamete would supply either the x or Y chromosome that would determine the sex of the off spring. He told me he would be upset if I did not give him a male child and I was like, you know all I have to give is an x right? He was very surprised to learn that he would need to bring the y to the table and did not even believe me at first. I had to produce sources. In the end he did not bring his y game, but he’s still here and he loves being a girl dad.
#17
That babies are born with their eyes open. I was about 8 months pregnant and he thought babies were like puppies/kittens/etc and asked me how long til our baby would open her eyes.
OhnoI’vebeencensored 2 years ago
My daughter gave me a shady look as soon as she was born. A look that said “I didn’t ask for any of this! I was warm and cosy in there!”
#18
Had to explain where the cervix was located, and that no his penis could not, in fact, go through to into uterus when he was ‘deep’. I don’t blame him. I blame our educational system.
TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago (edited)
And if a guy would hit that it would end up very painfully
#19
That women should pee after sex to avoid getting a uti
#20
Not every woman can orgasm from penetration.
My other half was a bit of a player in his younger years so this surprised me a lot.
He still thinks I'm the rare one for not being able to.
#21
Urine doesn't come out the vagina and vice versa. I can't believe men don't know that women have more than one hole (not counting the butt). This is not just my husband, seems to be a common belief of men. Gee, did they not learn anything in health class or when playing around?
TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago
There are also quite some women that don't know that as well. And I would assume it's common in countries that don't go into too much details with Sex Ed in high school
#22
They hate mince meat but their favourite food is meat balls.. When I asked what they thought meat balls were made of, he didn’t know.. so I had to explain that meatballs, burgers and mince are all the same thing.. just in a different shape
Take me to dinner first 2 years ago
So did you ruin his love for meat balls or did he suddenly start loving mince meat?
#23
Eggs are not dairy. Just because they’re in the “Dairy section” in US grocery stores, it does not mean they’re dairy. Kombucha is also in the dairy section, and prepackaged cinnamon roll dough. Like eggs, not dairy.
He was shook.
ADJ 2 years ago
Same in Poland. Anyway, this is absolutely irrevelant :) If you like eggs, you eat them, even when you find them in PERSONAL HYGIENE section of the market. For average eagg eater it does not make any difference. Just like discussion if tomato or strawberry are fruit or vegetable.
#24
That it's not sad for women to use toys.
#25
A few things I’ve had to explain:
• Lindsay Lohan plays both kids in The Parent Trap. No, I’m sure it’s not the Olsen twins.
• As a 20-year old, I was not 12 “five years ago.” (And he worked in finance at the time).
• Leia had a baby with Han.
• Preferring to use pads over tampons doesn’t make a woman ‘immature.’
• How libraries work (he thought the concept of books passing through many hands was ‘gross.’ This was pre-COVID).
#26
That vaginal discharge is not necessarily a sign of an std and that the consistency changes at different points in the menstrual cycle. Also had to explain that eating a*s is something that some people actually do, not just an internet joke.
Mystery Egg 2 years ago
Never understood the desire to eat someone's a**e. Seems utterly gross to me.
#27
My bf genuinely thought it only takes one time to get pregnant. He's had sex before but with condoms so now that we're trying he literally looked at me and said how aren't you pregnant yet? It only takes one time.
#28
How to chop vegetables. (Yes I am serious.) He was 32, and when I met him he was living on takeaways and Pot Noodles but was keen to get beyond that, so I taught him some basic cookery skills. We're not together any more, but the last time I saw him he was cooking regularly and healthily for himself, so he's definitely come a long way since!
Vasana Phong 2 years ago
My ex sil came over for dinner one time and brang along her nephew from NY city, I made beef and broccoli, the teenage nephew didn’t know what a broccoli was or never seen one, I was shocked, but she explained to me that he grew up in a very impoverished neighborhood that they did not have access to fresh fruits or vegetables, sad really
#29
In high school, super low-cut tight jeans were 'in.' All of us girls had to constantly pull them up, and even do a little wiggle to get them up. I had no idea how this looked; I just wore the jeans I thought were cute and in style. He thought girls shook their butt to turn the boys on while they were walking behind them. I haven’t been able to get that one off my mind since.
#30
My partner actually believes that it’s fine to leave cooked meat out for hours because “it’s not raw”. As someone who has taken microbio, I can confirm this is a terrible idea.
#31
That ponies don’t grow up to be horses.
Nay Wilson 2 years ago
To be fair, there was a period of time when I thought pony was the name for a baby horse (nope, it’s foal)
#32
He asked me how to know when water is boiling. There are a lot of other things related to cooking that he didn’t know but this one took me by surprise the most. Make sure to teach your kids basic cooking skills!
#33
This was my ex but
Him: "You say you don't like mushrooms but you'll eat this?" *holds my chocolate truffle ice cream up*
Me: "Because actual truffles are different from chocolate truffles. They're two separate things. What?"
Him: *blush*
It was cute af though
#34
That he can't tell a pregnant woman how "huge" she is.
That if he gives the dog exactly what she wants to stop her from doing what she shouldn't be, then he's just reinforcing her bad behaviour.
That reverse racism/sexism etc. isn't a thing
nachtinachtischachti 2 years ago
Reverse racism is not a thing. Racism towards white people is still a thing.
#35
That Pelicans and geese are a different species...????
#36
He thought that gynaecologist is for male problems too. After that, he went on to search for male gynaecologists in his area to prove he was right but ended up finding a gynaecologist who is a man.
#37
Saw a post about how a kitchen sponge sitting in water breeds more bacteria than if left to dry, which reminded me how I had to explain the whole concept to a guy I previously dated who didn’t believe sponges should be kept dry in tropical climates.
I also had to explain how periods last a whole seven days and not just one (I wish).
Jill Bussey 2 years ago
I saw a TV programme about someone with OCD. He was so proud of the cleanliness of his home and then showed the audience how he shaped his used dishcloth into a little damp ball and left it to ferment all day.
#38
How to emphatize with your partner's feelings. It was frustrating to teach him how to acknowledge and comfort me whenever I feel down without him getting mad or trying to minimize what I'm feeling.
#39
That "Anonymous" wasn't a person who wrote a million poems. At first I thought she was joking. Then she asked if I'd like to hear more by him-- how some were great and some completely c**p.... I decided to tell her a year after that just to see where it went...
#40
Not really a partner but I had to explain to many men what happens during a Pap smear…and they get grossed out all the time.
Marcos Valencia 2 years ago (edited)
I don't understand why you had to explain that "to many men". This is not a regular conversation topic and I can't figure out how the conversation just go on this direction in a natural manner.
#41
There is no such thing as 'womb f*****g.'
#42
He thought the tapioca pearls in Boba drinks were caviar. He literally thought that they put FISH EGGS in boba. I still love him though.
Not-a-Clue-What-to-Call-Myself 2 years ago (edited)
I have no idea what other tapioca pearls are and I've never heard of a Boba drink, so perhaps this isn't such common knowledge. Edit: I've googled it now. Sounds horrible 😂
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 2 years ago (edited)
Guys, STOP DOWNVOTING PEOPLE YOU DISAGREE WITH. If you’ve never had boba before I can absolutely see how it would seem gross. It’s delicious though.
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Jill Bussey 2 years ago
Is it the same or similar to bubble tea? It's nice to have something different, but it's way overpriced.
DonnerDinnerParty 2 years ago
You got it 👍 Boba and Bubble Tea are the same. They can get pricey but it is such a treat and so worth it!
Load More Replies... Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
What is a Boba drink? It just looks like chocolate milk with something in the bottom.
Amo Gus 2 years ago
It's tea (the one in the picture is chocolate-flavored milk tea) with tapioca balls. I hope I answered your question.
Load More Replies... #43
You can angle the vacuum cleaner to reach under the sofa!
kath morgan 2 years ago
Depending on your vacuum cleaner. At work we just got one that is great for this, much easier to get under the edges of things than my home hoover. I’m thinking of nicking it lol
#44
I had to explain the concept of gift giving at birthdays, Christmas etc.
First of all, my boyfriend doesn't care about receiving gifts at all and thought that's the norm for everyone. Second, he thought that a gift that's not useful (something that is just nice etc.) is worse than no gift, so he usually doesn't get a gift to anyone, if he can't come up with something super useful. And third, he thought that if you randomly buy little gifts to someone throughout the year, it's okay if you don't give them anything for big occasions.
So I had to explain that people generally do care about getting gifts on major occasions, not getting a gift is the worst because even if the gift isn't good, at least it shows you put a bit of an effort into it, and while it's nice to randomly receive small gifts, the person still be rightfully upset if you don't get them anything for an occasion.
Karl 2 years ago (edited)
I’m very much in the “buy gifts as it occurs to me throughout the year”. If I’m not inspired by something around the time of my wife’s birthday then I’ll wait until I am. I don’t see the point in buying something useless just to meet a deadline. If that makes me weird then so be it. I don’t expect anything on my birthday (and it’s my birthday today! 🙂)
#45
How to check if potatoes were cooked (to make mashed potatoes). Moms of sons, please train your sons.
#46
that he cant clean the bathroom by just showering the whole floor and leaving it to airdry, specially in a house built in the 70s, its a mold infestation waiting to happen.
#47
He didn’t know who Genghis Khan was. He had been to The Great Wall. I asked him why he thought they built it, he just shrugged. He also asked where waves came from…and once I mentioned the blood moon looked cool and we should check it out and he asked where it was?
Robert Beveridge 2 years ago
Please, please, please tell me you told him waves come from Genghis Khan
#48
That Canada was not part of the US. I still feel bad about how much I internally judged him, but he legit thought Canada was just a less important part of the US that's why it was always left off the maps and we only focus on the "southern part" (i.e. the 48 contiguous states).
#49
Soo many things.. to start-- the alphabet. He didn't know what vowels and consonants were.
#50
That you should leave hot food out to cool BEFORE you put it in the fridge.
Granted, I've worked in the food industry and he never has so I can't be too harsh on that one.
Doodles1983 2 years ago
It’s about energy efficiency of fridge, plus affecting temperature consistency of existing fridge items. And also condensation and moisture in the fridge.
#51
What a laundry basket was. My ex thought that his clothes would just magically disappear if he put them on the floor.
#52
I explained to my boyfriend a few months ago the tear duct on the lower eyelid. He was confused why there was a hole and I was like “babe…that’s where your tears come out”
#53
I had to tell my ex what Black Friday was. He stayed up all night in an online gaming tournament after thanksgiving dinner, and decided to go to Walmart for groceries at 4 am. Of course it was packed and he was shocked.
#54
That dogs can swim. We're both really smart, but there's some things he doesn't know that really surprise me sometimes (and vice versa). He thought they were only trained to swim in movies.
What do you think ?
Stannous Flouride 2 years ago
Almost every one of these is attributable to poor or nonexistent sex education. Because of the nonsensical shame attached to everything even peripherally attached to sex, those classes have been systematically removed from American schools by ignorant fools who believe that knowledge will lead to teen promiscuity even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it has the exact OPPOSITE impact. (I was raised by a single mom with an older sister and none of this was ever hidden from me)
nachtinachtischachti 2 years ago
What a b******t list. "I know/knew a guy who didn't know xyz" is the topic. Not most men, just a small amount and so one. Shaming for asking questions included. Pathetic
Helena 2 years ago
The number of women agreeing with each post or including their own life examples kind of refutes your point. It is common enough that we all nodded along.
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Brocken Blue 2 years ago (edited)
I have yet to meet a grown woman who thinks women have the ability to schedule their period or can hold it in like other bodily functions. That… is not a thing. And sure women aren’t born knowing how to cook but let’s be honest about which gender our culture tends to train in the kitchen from a young age. Ditto for emotional labor
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DBear 2 years ago
Things I have had to explain to women: (1) I can't fix everything in the house like your dad could. I've been to his house. Most of the things he "fixed" he did wrong. (2) I can't read your mind so when something is wrong TELL ME! (3) The CHECK ENGINE light is important. So is the OIL light. (4) Doing yardwork is my version of housework. It takes time and effort. So stop complaining I don't help with the housework. (5) Girls' night out is not any different than boys' night out. (6) Your mom's cooking wasn't any better than my mom's was. In fact, it was probably just as bad. (7) Your friends influence on you is as bad as mine is on me. (8) If I need to change to save the relationship then so do you. And finally (9) Money doesn't grow on trees Stop overspending!
Helena 2 years ago
Yardwork is not housework. One is a thankless drudgery, the other is an occasional vanity project.
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Falcon on Dizzy 2 years ago
after reading some of these, I think I know why some girls hang out with me. I'm 6'3" and look sort of built, and that's probably it
Emma S 2 years ago
True but the article is about things women had to tell men. You didn't need to jump on every single post with 'women do this as well' comments. I'm assuming you're male? In which case you've just demonstrated that you are part of the problem and shown how women are still being told to stay silent by misogynistic men even in 2023. One post was about smear tests and you proceeded to comment on how 'some women' don't know that either. Yes, maybe. But that doesn't mean you can become defensive and use that as an opportunity to stand up for the oppressed men in the world. Also, don't describe adult women as girls. You've completely embarrassed yourself.
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Stannous Flouride 2 years ago
Almost every one of these is attributable to poor or nonexistent sex education. Because of the nonsensical shame attached to everything even peripherally attached to sex, those classes have been systematically removed from American schools by ignorant fools who believe that knowledge will lead to teen promiscuity even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it has the exact OPPOSITE impact. (I was raised by a single mom with an older sister and none of this was ever hidden from me)
nachtinachtischachti 2 years ago
What a b******t list. "I know/knew a guy who didn't know xyz" is the topic. Not most men, just a small amount and so one. Shaming for asking questions included. Pathetic
Helena 2 years ago
The number of women agreeing with each post or including their own life examples kind of refutes your point. It is common enough that we all nodded along.
Load More Replies... Brocken Blue 2 years ago (edited)
I have yet to meet a grown woman who thinks women have the ability to schedule their period or can hold it in like other bodily functions. That… is not a thing. And sure women aren’t born knowing how to cook but let’s be honest about which gender our culture tends to train in the kitchen from a young age. Ditto for emotional labor
Load More Replies... DBear 2 years ago
Things I have had to explain to women: (1) I can't fix everything in the house like your dad could. I've been to his house. Most of the things he "fixed" he did wrong. (2) I can't read your mind so when something is wrong TELL ME! (3) The CHECK ENGINE light is important. So is the OIL light. (4) Doing yardwork is my version of housework. It takes time and effort. So stop complaining I don't help with the housework. (5) Girls' night out is not any different than boys' night out. (6) Your mom's cooking wasn't any better than my mom's was. In fact, it was probably just as bad. (7) Your friends influence on you is as bad as mine is on me. (8) If I need to change to save the relationship then so do you. And finally (9) Money doesn't grow on trees Stop overspending!
Helena 2 years ago
Yardwork is not housework. One is a thankless drudgery, the other is an occasional vanity project.
Load More Replies... Falcon on Dizzy 2 years ago
after reading some of these, I think I know why some girls hang out with me. I'm 6'3" and look sort of built, and that's probably it
Emma S 2 years ago
True but the article is about things women had to tell men. You didn't need to jump on every single post with 'women do this as well' comments. I'm assuming you're male? In which case you've just demonstrated that you are part of the problem and shown how women are still being told to stay silent by misogynistic men even in 2023. One post was about smear tests and you proceeded to comment on how 'some women' don't know that either. Yes, maybe. But that doesn't mean you can become defensive and use that as an opportunity to stand up for the oppressed men in the world. Also, don't describe adult women as girls. You've completely embarrassed yourself.
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