Acting “Ladylike”?

The post about taking up space reminded me of the comments I get from just about everyone (except my fellow feminists!) about my burping and other “un-ladylike” things. If I’m with my friends or family, I burp. If I remember, I’ll follow it with an “excuse me”, but either way, I’m ALWAYS accused of being un-ladylike. The same goes for when I announce to my friends/family that I have to pee (excuse me, but I drink alot and I therefore have to pee alot). The older men in my family are constantly “correcting” me, saying how it is un-ladylike to announce such a thing. I should be saying “I have to use the restroom.” HOWEVER, those same men/boys can go on half hour long conversations about their farts or bowel movements. They then turn to my mother, complaining that she didn’t “raise me right”, because she was apparantly supposed to raise me to act like a lady.
So as far as they are concerned, being a woman means not having basic human bodily functions, or at least not talking about them. As if for us its disgusting, but for them, its admirable. Me and my fellow strong women have burping contests, just like the boys. If the older men in my family were to see that, one can only imagine what they’d think.
It just makes me so angry, the double standards and the ridiculous expectations for women who should be “ladies.” Does anyone else deal with such things?

Disclaimer: This post was written by a Feministing Community user and does not necessarily reflect the views of any Feministing columnist, editor, or executive director.

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