We’re finally diving into spicy topics on this Substack. Buckle up.
A few months ago, I got really into an Instagram account by a young married couple. They were hot, charming, allegedly smitten with each other, split chores evenly, and seemingly spent 24/7 together with nary an argument in sight.
At first, it was fun. It was a refreshing break from the sexist “nagging wife” jokes or the useless toddler husband punchlines that have been everywhere on the internet for years.
Then I realized that I walked away from this couple’s content feeling sad. They seemed to put their relationship on a pedestal as a shining example that all couples should follow (and if you didn’t, what’s wrong with you?) The underlying message I got was that any man who wasn’t living up to the standard set by this upper-middle-class, attractive, 20-something husband was a misogynistic, deadbeat loser.
My mind would race. Was my kind, attentive, good-hearted husband not measuring up because he didn’t drop hundreds of dollars on flowers for me every month? Was our marriage doomed because he didn’t surprise me every quarter with a seasonal basket filled with crap I don’t need from Target?
I had to unfollow that account. Not only did it help clear my head, it also sharpened my discernment when encountering professional couples on the internet.
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