Why Weak Men Want Submissive Women
For the past week I’ve participated in a lively exchange on the issue of female submission in romantic relationships. The source of the conflict was a V-log posting by Shanel Cooper (no relation … that I know of anyway) entitled Your Power is in Submission…
Judging by the comments posted, I am apparently in the minority in my thinking. Many of the male posters cosigned in droves. They were quite excited to find a woman willing to submit to men, and who was openly encouraging other women to do the same.
I couldn’t get on board with the nonsense.
First of all, the references to submission in "a relationship" were inaccurate. Though I am not religious, even I know that the Bible specifically references "wife" and "husband" when it instructs on submission. This fact automatically rules out all those wanna be the boss baby daddy knucklehead types who think that all females should categorically submit to all males. For those women that ascribe to the doctrine of submission by females, be sure that you limit your submission to the one man that steps up and makes you his wife.
However, submission is not something I advocate for women at all. I heard from several men and women online and offline that perhaps I was looking at the whole thing wrong, that submission wasn’t always negative, and that it means that a couple is cooperating. In reality the words "cooperation" and "submission" have two entirely different meanings:
Submission: (1) the act of submitting, yielding, or surrendering; (2) the quality or condition of being submissive; resignation; obedience; meekness; (3) the act of submitting to the authority or control of another: "Oppression that cannot be overcome does not give rise to revolt but to submission" (Simone Weil); (4) the condition of having submitted to the power of someone else; (5) the condition of being submissive, humble, or compliant.
Cooperation: (1) an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action; (2) to work or act together; (3) to assist or be willing to assist. However, cooperation may be coerced (forced), voluntary (freely chosen), or even unintentional, and consequently individuals and groups might cooperate even though they have few goals or values in common. Examples are wars, families, jobs, schools and prisons… any institution or organization of which individuals are a part due to free will and their own choice, by law, or by force.
In other words, a man might gain a woman’s cooperation and/or submission by physically assaulting her, threatening to assault her, by threatening to take her children from her, or even to leave her. This type of manipulation happens frequently when the male’s primary goal is to gain the upper hand, to feel powerful, and to have others submit to his desires and will… to WIN.
As I’ve said before in The Male Struggle to Control Female Sexuality, the religious tenets of male superiority are a tool men use to control women, make them predictable and malleable so that men can feel more secure about what a woman does with her vagina. That is the whole purpose of all these rules and the desire for a "submissive" woman you know… to provide the male with sexual services when he wants them, and assurances that the vagina he calls his really is under his power and control. He wants to know where his vagina is at all times, who has access to it, and that no one is getting in it but him.
The brainwashing of females by men in their lives such as fathers and pastors, deacons and ministers is complete when women make statements such as those expressed in the video. It is not in a woman’s "nature" to be anything but great and powerful self-actualizing citizens of the world! Yet various cultures and religions have limited female options and choices based strictly on gender. Women of today, their mothers, and their mother’s mothers have all been socialized by men to believe that males are superior and that females should subjugate themselves to them.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Women are powerful, smart, strong creatures, emotionally resilient, caring, and in touch with themselves and others emotionally. Women are by far the stronger of the sexes in every way but physically; and if a woman weight trains, even that is a 50/50 proposition.
Black men especially seem to have a difficult time with the concept of equality in a relationship and are the biggest fans of submissive females. I believe this is due to the widespread belief in and adherence to Christianity in the Black community. The desire for a submissive woman may also be due to the fact that many Black men feel powerless in society, so they seek to feel in control and powerful at home. It makes sense, but sorry! Not gonna happen.
No woman (but especially Black women), have a need to be submissive to men on any level, at any time. And ladies, if you meet a Brotha that believes the only way the two of you can have a happy relationship is for you to submit and turn over your power to him, you need to seriously consider passing on him. What is it that you would be exchanging your self-worth for? Where would his quest for power and control over you end? I’ve known men to refuse to allow their women to wear certain clothes, hang with her friends, or even to wear makeup. They refuse to allow her to work outside the home, have her own money, or go back to school. He places himself in the role of decider of all things concerning his woman and the household; he decides what is best for her and what he wants to happen with HIS woman.
I actually feel that this is one of the top reasons so many Black women are single. Black women are educated and accomplished, at a ratio of at least 3 to 1 over Black men. A solid sistah has no need to play that silly submission game. Though Black women do want a husband and family, no one wants to be treated like a second class citizen at home! We get enough of that crap from Whites and other races in the workplace and out in the world. There is nothing attractive about being a strong, educated, loving woman of strength and character that has to hide behind a mask of bland church-going goodness to secure a mate. There is no value in dumbing yourself down to assuage a man’s fragile ego.
Giving in to submissiveness would mean that he feels powerful and in control while you allow him to chip away at your self-worth. To make him shine you hide the important parts of yourself (the parts you love and that make you YOU), just so he can feel good about himself and his shaky sense of manhood.
Eventually, the broken piece of woman that is left depressed with her spirit shattered will make a last-ditch effort to save herself by seeking refuge in a bottle of antidepressants, a fifth of Vodka, a dozen donuts, or the arms of another man.
This sad outcome can be easily prevented by thinking now about what you need before you sign onto any type of relationship. Do not base your choice of man on the expectations of the religion you’ve followed since childhood, or what your parents think is good, or what your friends think is right. YOU decide for yourself. Don’t choose a man out of obligation or desperation to marry either. Give serious thought to what man is going to make you happy long-term then go out and find THAT man. Never settle for less and do not change yourself to meet his fantasy of a perfect woman. Always do you.
One of the male posters (N.C.) had a solid understanding of the issue and posted: "While a woman submissive (or possibly more accurately nurturing) to her husband and household can be a beautiful and wonderful thing under the right conditions, sadly, there are plenty of no good men willing to take advantage of this. Any relationship should be give and take, and a man should be willing to accommodate the wants and needs of the woman in his life as well as his own. Open communication and sometimes a little compromise go a long way toward maintaining a healthy and loving relationship. It simply cannot be a one way street."
What I’ve noticed is that the men who demand a female subjugate herself to him unconditionally tend to be those that lack confidence, are unsure of their sexual prowess or physical attractiveness, or that feel they are lacking in some way and cannot compete in the dating arena. Their confidence is shored up by an adoring woman that hangs on their every word as if it were The Gospel.
Even when he admits to himself that he doesn’t know crap about what he is doing and would like to have help on a decision, he cannot ask his woman for assistance. He feels if he gets her input and she is actually right and he ends up doing what she says, it would break down the rigid role barriers he’s worked so hard to establish. So he and his entire family suffer for his lack of courage and dearth of knowledge as he hangs onto his role as uncontested "natural leader."
However, as noted by the male poster N.C. above, a confident self-assured man does not want a woman to submit nor subjugate herself to him. The confident man embraces his woman as an equal partner. He is openly proud of her and acknowledges her skills and strengths as she acknowledges his. These two form a powerful, mutually enriching, mutually supportive team where the lead is taken by one then the other as their skills, education and experience dictate. Neither is relegated to a box based strictly on gender.
At some point men must make an effort to understand that having a penis gives them no special powers, no increased abilities, no more knowledge or experience, nothing more than women have. You are not more than a woman. You are not superior in any way. You are the opposite of women, but you are not better, you are not smarter, you are not faster at anything either. You are just a male. And that does not entitle you to any special privileges or rights or treatment just because you are.
In closing ladies, your power is not in submission; your power is in your resilient spirit, in your joyful heart, in your intelligence, and in your soul as a woman.
Your power is in your sense of accomplishment and the benefit you bring to your family, your community and the world. Women can heal broken hearts with a touch and a wounded soul with a soft word because women can FEEL the pain and confusion of others. Women also have an understanding of and connection with the Universe and everything in it — something men don’t understand and are truly afraid of.
Typically, when people don’t understand something they are afraid of it. Fearful people desire to eradicate that which they are most fearful of. Be alert for attempts to destroy your self-confidence and independent mind. Do not ever let a man convince you to submit to him because he demands it, or because he assumes it is his rightful position in your life. Surrendering your power and self to the control of men unconditionally will damage and possibly destroy the essence of your spirit, the very thing that makes you the strong, confident and wonderful woman that you are.
Until next time.
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Looik, ladies, it’s very, very simple. it’s my house, I own it. I’m the one that paid for it with my money.
It’s my money. I’m the one who worked for it, not you. Therefore I make the rules. If you want to be in MY house, you follow my rules. It’s a privelage for you to be in my house, so don’t ever forget that.
If you want to stay in my house, you put my needs and desires first, ok? You DON’T rearrainge my house to suit you, you DON’T tell me what to do in MY house. Show a little gratitude, ok? Remember, you can always be replaced by a younger, hotter model at any given time. I worked very hard to get where I am and what I’ve got, and no one is going to tell me what to do with it.
My brotha, you need therapy. I hope with all seriousness that these are not your true thoughts and feelings. You must have fell and bumped your head several times and I mean several times.
Reread what you wrote and then come back to it and try that again. If you can’t figure it out…you lack so much respect for yourself. Low self esteem!
I’m on the fence with this one. Althought I agree the video messenger is using the wrong word, i understand where she is trying to go with it. Sidebar…I wear heels when I clean house. I’ve been doing it since I was 17…it’s fun and I do it for myself. I enjoy my sexuality whenever I can. …
Ok with that said, there is power in a woman’s sexuality, in her softness, in her ability to listen, nurture, persuade, be firm yet gentle. There’s great power in her tenderness. Often I hear people taking these delicate qualities and mistaking them for subservient behavior.
I look at relationships like I look at business sometimes. Sometimes there’s a need for someone to make an executive decision minus other input and sometimes there’s a need for partnership and collaboration. Neither way can sustain without respect for the other party(ies) involved.
I have heard for a long time I need to let a man be a man. It took me a very long time to grasp that. I finally realized a few things… A real man, confident man won’t have this kind of power struggle with me. I will feel no need to assert myself or to take control over every situation because he will do what he needs to prove he is an equal partner. I will be confident in allowing him to take the wheel at times. He will be mindful and attentive, just as I will. We together will take care of each other’s needs, protect each other however the moment assigns it. I will allow him to show me he cares through his tradition (opening up doors, walking on the outside, whatever it may be) and I will allow myself and find pleasure in showing him I care through my own tradition…be it cooking, cleaning, or bringing home the bacon, or whatever.
I’m laughing as I type this because my current relationship to an outside person seems very “submissive”. Yet i’m empowered because I know what it took to get to where we are. I am not the arguing type, I am not the jump through hoops to show you what I have to offer type. I don’t need to roar to make a statement. After walking out on him with no words…he came to realize I was not being meek or passive but baskin in my feminity and requiring him to appreciate and honor the very thing I love about being a female. I can list all the things he does for me and I do for him that to an outsider would make me look rather weak and incapable of taking care of myself. That’s fine… but I think the word she needs use is “love”. Love is a selfless act. It looks like submission but it’s far more powerful.
We’re here to benefit one another… I am not a fan of the “I am woman, hear me roar” mantra nor the infamous “i’m a grown ass man”. Within both lies the need to control, the feeling of inferiority, and much room for personal growth.
Amen, love your style. Could not of express or said it better myself..
oh and I am not a holy roller nor big in the church. I am a man who handles his business before anybody starts typing hateful messages.
The only part I do not agree with in this article is the underlying tones of where men are beneath women in everything except physical strength. There are men who have it together and doing the right things just as there are women who do not have anything on the ball at all. The points of the article to me are more on what you believe but this underlying issue of women being that much better than men just because a few men screw up is unacceptable to me.
Why is it that men try to take over a conversation that is about women? This is not about you, but since you wrote let me respond. Women are indeed stronger than men. The infant mortality rate for males is higher than females. Women live longer than men. Women are better than men.
Men know it too which is why in their envy they try to squelch women at every opportunity and beat them into submission with words, quotes from some book, or their fists. Women don’t do that, which also makes women better than men. Of course not every single person in the world fits the description, that should go without saying. For you to assume a defensive posture and even comment on something so obvious is rather goofy don’t you think?
Submission means ‘embracing the traditional roles of women in a relationship?!?’ OK – I stopped the video at that. Enuf said. I’ve heard all that I need to hear of her and it didn’t take 60 seconds.
I just stumbled on this site from a link on a message board. First – Thank you Deborah for such a well written piece – it was the only reason I clicked on that video (to reference your article) although admittedly I couldn’t stomach much of the video. It’s good to know that I’m not the only woman who’s skin crawls when hearing the word ‘submission.’
I JUST broke up with a man who claimed “I had an opinion for everything.” His words were, ‘if I wanted us to work I need to let him have the final word ALL THE TIME, let him ‘be the man, and stop being so ‘opinionated.’ Although I’m a very spiritual person I have not (since my adult life) been into organized religion for the simple fact that women have very little voice and are relegated to the background. That was also a thorn of contention between he and I. He felt if I attended church or mosque (he went back and forth from one to the other) that I would know my ‘place’ more.
He got to the point where he disliked my friendship with a mutual male friend. Now to put our friendship in perspective this man (he now disliked) has always introduced me as his sister, and was the very same man who introduced us. There has NEVER, EVER been anything but friendship between us – as I am friends with both he and his wife. But all of the sudden my new man didn’t like me talking to any other men, especially the one who introduced us. Insecure much?!?! (Control issue #1)
He expected me to call him the moment I walked through the door at work – even when I explained I had morning meetings with my boss. I said, I could call you once I get settled and after our meeting (which take about 10-15 minutes) – but that wasn’t enough. He wanted me to check-in with him instantly. (Control issue #2)
I walk, almost daily, at a par course that I’ve walked at for almost 15 years. It is safe, open, and to my knowledge there has never been any violence at this spot. Now all of the sudden my new man has to drive me to this course and each time I round the corner he wants me to acknowledge him as he sits in the car. The moment he doesn’t see me come around the corner the arguments start when I get in the car. Didn’t I tell you to wave at me when you came by!!! I explained over and over again, I don’t need you to follow me every step I make. Nor am I a child that needs to report to you each time I circle the course. Now this was not about safety by any means – it was about me following his rules. If he was that concerned about my safety he would have walked with me. (Control issue #3)
When I came home from work he expected me to ‘check-in’ with him. If I didn’t there was another argument. Yet this same man went home (DC) for the weekend without even telling me, because he was yet again mad at some opinion I had before he left. So although I have to give him play by play of my every movement, in his mind it was perfectly OK for him to leave the state without telling me (Control issue #4)
At first I didn’t mind his input on what I wore. Then it got to the point when we went out that he would lay my clothes out for me. If I selected another item – he’d complain about what I chose. (Control issue #5)
He constantly threw up in my face how the female members of his mosque complained that we were ‘sinning’ because they assumed we were having sex outside of marriage. So to avoid these embarrassing discussions with the members of his faith, he repeatedly told folks we were ‘engaged’ and that I would soon join his church/mosque. WE never discussed marriage. He said we would get married, but WE never discussed marriage. We had too many issues in my book to even consider marriage – yet HE decided to tell folks we were engaged (Control issue – ah, I’m loosing count there were so many control issues!)
It got to the point where we couldn’t maintain a normal conversation. What I consider ‘conversing’ he considered me being overly opinionated. Why don’t you just let me have the last word sometimes – you always have to have some thing to say. I’m like – we’re just discussing things – we aren’t arguing. This is what normal folks call ‘talking.’
If I made a suggestion as to where to take my car for repair, he’d drive it to a completely different spot – just to go against what I asked. Was he paying for the service – naw. And he would lead me to believe that he was taking it where I asked. Heaven forbid I know of a better spot than he did.
I have a house, and he rented his place – yet after meeting his minister this man informed my ‘man’ that I was a very independent sistah who would probably never sell my house to marry him. And in the eyes of the minister it was the man who should own the house. We argued about that constantly. “I know you’ll never sell your house!” Why would I sell my house?!?!? You have none – so it’s not like I could move in with him. Tho, I love my house and even if he had a house, I wouldn’t jump to move in with him. And in my opinion this was a moot point because he rented and didn’t own. WTF do I look like giving up my home on the hopes that one day he could purchase a home for us?!? The fact that I was doing something on my own bothered him to no end.
Before we separated I told him – since you spend so much time with ministers, you need to find you a church woman. One that you can control. One that has no opinion. One that needs your permission on how to dress, where to go, who to talk to, and how long to stay. Why try to convert me when your church is full of women begging to be controlled?
It’s amazing now that what he claimed attracted him to me was my strength and intelligence, yet within a matter of months those same ‘qualities’ became something that drove him crazy.
He really fooled me. He seemed so balanced in the beginning. We often spoke of what we could do ‘together’ – yet the more time we spent together the more I realized he was looking for a robot that he could wind up on command. Some one that needed to be directed on every aspect of her life. One that lived to submit.
A healthy relationship is about what TWO individuals can do together. It’s certainly not about one aimlessly following another without question. I was NOT threatened about what he accomplished and I truly resented him being so controlling and threatened about what I have done.
So he’s gone now – and thank the Lord (his and mine). I pray that he has found that woman that he can lead around and never tries to contact me or enter my life again. The world is full of plenty of women who pray for a man like him. To me he was a nightmare that couldn’t tolerate any independent thought or action from a woman.
Me – I’m fine! I know I’ll have no problem finding a real, confident brotha that will appreciate all I have to offer. A man that doesn’t believe my strength is his weakness. Someone who is looking for a healthy union.
Thanks for writing this. I am an ‘ex’ holy roller, so believe me when I say you are right on! Women birth the world. We GIVE BIRTH to men. How on earth can we be inferior? Please wake up brothers. Our ancestors were MADE to submit to the white man’s religion, and he really created a monster! QUESTION these beliefs that were beaten into our ancestor’s heads. YOU HAVE A CHOICE.
We black women do have the money, the education, and the strength. Why on earth would we submit to men who don’t have it together? I can tell you from experience that 90%of men don’t. I am sure some ill evolved brother will come with: “that’s why you ain’t got no man!” “ain’t no man gonna want you”. Whatever. Understand that we women have choices, its not just you. Why not make yourselves into something desirable ? We need more than just a d**k. We need the whole package too!
I do not hate black men–I love them! The smart ones will know that what this sister is saying has a lot of merit.
Peace!
Tell it Ginae!!!
The author of this blog sounds like a very rebellious sinful woman. Your life is not about what you want but what God has ordained. You will submit in this life or the next, under the mighty hand of God the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ or you will submit to satan, period. The reason why our world is in Sin is because of women who had the thought pattern of Eve to disobey and rebel. You need to repent of your Sins and ask God to forgive you.
How do you know what God has ordained for me? You Holy Roller types think you know every damn thing and always want to tell other people what to do. If I am rebellious (which is exactly the way I am), then it means God made me this way. I would venture to say that I am on a mission from God to wake Black women and men that willingly follow false prophets and live their lives as meek, silly little sheep up. No good can ever come to the Black Americans in this country if they are always following, making decisions for their lives based on fear, and don’t think for themselves.
You all sit up in church wasting your time, listening to that drivel spoken from crazy people that claimed they got “touched” and now have the right ear of God. Half them fools were in prison or slinging rocks 5 years ago but now they are your spiritual leader? Yeah ok.
Oh, and BTW. My family first purchased land here in the state of Texas in 1873, and we’ve never left. My family was country before country was cool. I was born with a coffee can of lard in one hand and a cast iron skillet in the other hand, and I guarantee you that my flat-footed ass could outcook Stilletto Girl by the time I was 13. Fellas, if your lady is teetering around your kitchen in heels, check your garbage can. That’s where you’ll find the receipt for all that food she just put on the table.
One thing about single black women – we seem to have a LOT of money, and we’re willing to throw it away to anybody who will tell us what’s ‘wrong’ with us. Shanel pulls double duty: not only does she sell the whole “submission” package (which gets props from the fellas), she wraps it in a package that makes it enticing to black women by appealing to our femininity, something the mainstream (read: white) media never does when addressing women of color. Very impressive – too bad it’s bunk. You know who wears stilettos in the kitchen? Women who can’t cook and are trying too damn hard, that’s who. Raz hit it dead on this head – she’s Sarah Palin in (fake) Louboutins.
Submit, if that’s your thing and it works for you, but stop trying to tell scores of other women that they’re wrong for not doing so. And it’s interesting that Shanel never really talks about her mate – I can’t ever seem to find a straight answer to whether she’s married – like REALLY married, with a certificate and what – or not.
What gets me is how much like sheep people are. Judging from the comments on her Youtube video page, many men and women believe this stuff from this woman’s mouth just because ‘she said it’. Here she is a cosmotologist. (not that there is anything wrong with that) but I doubt seriously she’s had any type of higher education or varied experience that gives her credibility to talk this noise she’s talking. She seems like she’s not too far removed from being a newly wed and probably not even 30 yet spouting all of this nonsence as if it was the gospel. What does she know? Yet people buy into what she’s saying. Now I see the Sarah Palin phenomenon in effect. If someone is reasonably attractive, and charismatic , they too can be a ‘used car salesman and sell, sand in the desert.
This lady is idealistic probably hasn’t been married all that long. I checked out her other videos on Youtube and they are all aimed at ‘serving that man’ keeping him happy. She has a few videos where she puts down women yet she says she is empowering them. She’s promoting her book “Stilettos in the Kitchen”. While I applaud her entrepreneurial endeavors, I think she has things backwards. Women are put on pedastals, not men. She acts as though she is soo glad to be married, she will walk through hell in a gasoline suit for her man. Heaven forbid if she loses her looks or he cheats on her, she’ll lose her freaking mind, take off that stiletto and imbed it upside his head. Especially since she has raised this dude up so far in her mind, while subsequently mentally putting herself below him. Never do that!!
Even our President of the U.S. has his wife on a pedestal and she has often said in interviews, before he became President when he was running and when he was a Senator, that he still had chores to do in the house. She kept his feet on the ground by reminding him, that he is not above her. President Obama worships his wife for who she is as a woman and not because she brought him a plate of food wearing Stilettos. (I doubt she even wears heels as tall as she is LOL) But First Lady Michelle is a successful smart Ivy league grad attorney and successful, intelligent and accomplished in her own right. She didn’t need Obama to make her into the woman she is today, she was already that women.
I look at my own sister as inspiration. Her husband is what I call a traditional man. He was the bread winner in the family for years. My sister worked when she wanted and kept her own bank account and still does. He has his, and she has hers. He is the one who cooks in the home because he is an excellent cook and took professional cooking courses. When they have family get togethers he is the one who does all of the cooking. He can burn in the kitchen and he loves to cook too. He is also an all around handy man so guess who does the refurbishing and decorating in their home? He does. He is all man where it counts too. He doesn’t expect my sister to be some docile subservient woman towards him. When my sister needs some time out to take a hot bubble bath soak, she can do that and rest assured that dinner will be on the tablee. BTW, they’ve been married for over 20 years!
When he met my sister, she was attending a community college and he was knocking about working in a custodial position. Yet he saw my sister, who was friends with his sister who was also taking classes at that college. He wanted a chance with my sister, but he knew before he approached her, that he needed to get his act together. He did, He went on to school, joined the military before he approached her. In other words he ‘manned up’. He had my sister on a pedastal. She was someone he felt he had to ‘step up his game’ in order to win her. This is as it should be. So far, they’ve had a successful marriage (no bed of roses what marriage is), raised their children and they are blessed. Good Lord willing I hope it continues.
When women start defining their worthiness by a man, and when they marry that man and start embracing a subservient attitude, that is when they go into doormat mode. Men don’t find this attractive just as women don’t find henpecked men attractive. You can wear all the stilettos and tight leggings you want, while serving him a 5 course meal, but if he doesn’t find you mentally stimulating, if he doesn’t find you fascinating, you won’t hold his interest. He’ll take what you have to offer and go be around someone who engrosses him. You can’t ‘serve’ your way into a man’s heart and once you get him and you can’t continue to serve your way into keeping him. You become his ‘servant’ not his companion, not his wife. A man loves you for you regardless.
This woman doesn’t seem to get that. She strikes me as someone who ‘maybe married up’ and she is so grateful that her ‘man’ chose her that she is out to teach all the rest of us women just what we need to do and just how we need to be in order to ‘get and keep a man’.
She’s got a lot to learn. Life will be her teacher, give it a few years. Let’s see how much she’ll be into being ‘servant girl with her hubby when the kids come, and he is still expecting ‘king of the hill treatment’ and now she’s got to divide her time between him and the babies. ‘Kings’ don’t like to have their time and attention taken from them even by their own offspring especially once a woman ‘trains’ them to be a certain way. I hope she has a successful marriage but this mindset of hers is not what we should be teaching our young girls out there.
I don’t get why the woman in the video seems to believe that women cannot love, be good moms, nor create a good home, without submitting. She is flat wrong.
What man wants to come home after a hard day at work and have someone dump on him? Not me, that’s for sure. when I come home, I want to be met by a woman who respects me, and is happy to see me. The house is tidy and dinner is ready. Maybe she meets me at the door with a smile and a great big hug because she missed me while I was at work. She, of course, does not work, she keeps the house.
What on earth is there in marriage for men these days? Why should we marry you? What do you have to offer? I make enough money. My wife won’t have to work, and she won’t. If taking care of me isn’t her top priority, why should I keep her around? Do you wonder why so many American men are going overseas to find wives? Because American women all seem to think that the way to treat a man is to treat him like a child or an animal. Only in America. there is no other country on earth where women treat their men as badly as y’all do. It’s why the divorce rate is so high here.
Remember, a man can always find another woman to replace you, and she’ll be younger, hotter, and treat him better. You’ll just get old, and the older you get, the less desirable you are. And if you have kids? forget it. You’ll never find a quality man after you’ve cranked out carbon copies of yourself. So, screw around all you want, have as many babies with as many losers that you want. You’ll never get access to my bank accounts.
Deborrah, this was a very well put article from obviously a well educated and eloquent woman of inner strength. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your wonderful empowerment! I am sure that every woman who reads your article(s) will take something away for herself. I do believe that EVERY woman should have and always maintain the ability to stand on her own so that IF something were to happen, whatever that may be, she always has an option. Man or woman, the moment we start telling ourselves we can’t do any better (whether in a relationship or in ANY aspect of life), we can’t. This word should be erradicated from our vocabulary as we constantly pursue our dreams. Any decent man will be supportive of that.
I hope this chick in that video reads this extraordinary article. It’s too bad that women like her continue to kowtow to men and spread destructive messages such as this. She does it as if she knows what she is talking about and then has the nerve to say she is saying this tripe in order to empower women?!! WTH??
First of all she needs to fully understand the definition of the word ‘submit’ and the connotations this word implies. She is using the ‘wrong’ word trying to talk about how healthy relationships should work and about women’s empowerment. Women’s empowerment has nothing to do with the word “submit”. Submit means to accept someone else’s authority to bend under pressure, to yield. It alludes to something being conquered the word itself is not the appropriate word that should be used if she wants to talk about a healthy relationship and what men and women need to do to work together in order to run a happy home.
Men need to step up to the plate. Women could be in a ‘traditional role if they had ‘traditional men, but we have these punk azz men ditching out on women and kids so now women have to be mother, father everything and she wants to talk about submissive? Give me a break.
She talks with such conviction but any psychologist would destroy her because she is misusing that word. The context in which she uses the word submissive in order to promote a healthy relationship is just wrong! She’s talking submission in order to empower women? Isn’t that an oxymoronic idea?
A submit means to yield (and most times it’s unwillingly) a healthy relationship isn’t about someone yielding and someone conquering. A healthy relationship isn’t about yielding one’s will and becoming some mindless drone who empowers their partner while they have no power, no say so in a relationship.
A healthy relationship is built on two partners working together for the betterment of the relationship/family etc while respecting and accepting and valuing the other person’s mind, thoughts, ideas, opinions and whatever else they bring to the table. Don’t come at me talking about no submit, when you don’t even fully understand what the word means or how to use it in the proper context.
Darn, idiots trying to talk like they know what they are talking about and merely talking noise.
This is one of the best articles I’ve read in a long time. You are such an inspiring writer Deborrah!! Thank you for the boost to my confidence. My husband and I are separating and its been a very rough few months. I was accused of not following his lead, even though he started drinking, missing work, and spending money on who knows what. I couldn’t sit by and let him take the kids and me down with him. Reading this helps me know I made the right choice to save myself and our two children. .