I'm mostly trying to bring to light the ways in which misogyny permeates our culture and we don't even realize it.

Your answer about staying home with sick kids triggered a memory of mine. I always stayed home with my sick kids - and I even preferred it that way. But is it because if my kids - say vomited on the floor on their way to the toilet - my ex made them clean it up?

Yes. Without hesitation. Maybe I would have been less likely to prefer to be home with my sick babies every single time if I knew they were in good hands.

It sounds like your mom has internalized misogyny. I would never ever ever make my sons feel bad about not having the "guts" to approach a woman. I don't even understand that mentality. I'm sorry you've been made to feel those things even if they weren't outwardly expressed.

You've made my point beautifully - it's so culturally ingrained that we don't bat an eye when those thoughts crop up - inside us, or when we feel like someone else is thinking it.

Making boys feel like they aren't "tough enough" or like they need to "man up". It's all part of the same sickness.